Unions say 577 teachers died on Uttar Pradesh panchayat poll duty

Earlier this week, the Allahabad HC had sent a notice to the SEC seeking explanation on the alleged deaths of govt employees due to Covid-19 during panchayat poll duty.

Teachers' unions in Uttar Pradesh have submitted a list of 577 teachers and support staff who died while on panchayat poll duty to the state election commission (SEC). The unions have requested the election commission to postpone the counting day, May 2. Dinesh Chandra Sharma, president of UP Shikshak Mahasangh (UPSM), said they had given names of 577 basic education teachers from 71 districts who died amid the raging Covid-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, the Allahabad High Court had sent a notice to the SEC seeking explanation on the alleged deaths of government employees due to Covid-19 during panchayat poll duty.