Across West Bengal, reports of elderly deaths and distress are emerging amidst the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearings of electoral rolls. These incidents have sparked concerns and accusations, with political parties trading blame and questions being raised about the handling of the revision process.

One recent incident involved an 82-year-old man from Purulia district who died, reportedly by suicide. His family alleged that he had been under severe mental stress since receiving a notice to appear for a hearing as part of the SIR process. They claimed he was anxious and had not been eating properly in the days leading up to his death. Block Trinamool Congress president Manoj Saha called the incident "unfortunate" and stated that people were living in fear due to "faulty decisions" of the Election Commission, further stating that the Election Commission must take responsibility for the death.

In another case, an elderly man from Chandrakona died after receiving a hearing notice from the Election Commission under the SIR. The family reported that he experienced severe mental distress, fearing exclusion from the voter's list or further legal issues, and subsequently suffered a heart attack. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has alleged that the BJP and the Election Commission are deliberately issuing notices to genuine voters to create fear and harass them. The TMC has branded the death as "not natural," holding both the BJP and EC responsible and alleging a "planned conspiracy" to intimidate voters.

Similar incidents have been reported from other parts of West Bengal. In Nadia district, a 70-year-old man died, with his family attributing his death to anxiety related to the SIR process. They claimed that he had stopped eating due to his concerns about his name potentially missing from the voter list.

In light of these events, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced financial compensation for the families of those who have died due to concerns surrounding the SIR. She stated that 39 deaths have been reported amid stress surrounding the Special Intensive Revision process. The families of each of the deceased will receive financial assistance. Furthermore, individuals undergoing treatment for illnesses related to SIR stress will also receive financial assistance.

The opposition parties have criticized the Chief Minister's announcement of compensation, with CPI(M) State Secretary Mohammad Salim accusing her of "indulging in politics over the dead". He alleged that Block Level Officers (BLOs) are being pressured by the Election Commission. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari shared an audio clip alleging that BLOs were being pressured by the Electoral Revision Officer (ERO) to not delete names of dead persons.

These incidents highlight the human cost and potential distress associated with electoral roll revisions, particularly among vulnerable populations. The SIR process aims to ensure accurate voter lists, but concerns have been raised about its implementation and the impact on elderly and anxious citizens. The Election Commission is yet to release a statement on these specific incidents, but the concerns continue to grow as the revision process continues.