T.Narasipur/ Mandya: Depression over a heart ailment and mounting work pressure drove T. Narasipur Tahsildar B. Shankaraiah to commit suicide late last night. The incident came to light this morning when some of his department officials came looking for him as he failed to attend office.

Fifty-eight-year-old B. Shankaraiah hung himself to a ceiling fan at his official guest house “Kabini” on the Nanjangud Road. The exact time of the death is not known and only post-mortem report will throw light on it. The officer had ordered dinner from outside yesterday and had not eaten it. He has not left a suicide note either, the Police said.

Shankaraiah was very popular among the residents of T. Narasipur for being an upright officer. He was earlier working as a Tahsildar of Pandavapura and was transferred to T. Narasipur just 11 months back. Hailing from Kothathi village in Mandya, he had a house at Cauvery Nagar in Mandya. He used to travel daily from Mandya to T. Narasipur and used to stay at the T. Narasipur Guest House occasionally when work demanded.

According to officials close to him at his office, Shankaraiah had a heart ailment that came to light sometime back and the doctors had advised him to undergo a surgery. Shankaraiah was depressed about this and used to confide with his colleagues. Added to his woes was excessive workload. His colleagues suspected that a combination of depression and workload could have driven him to take the extreme step.

Shankaraiah’s wife Pushpalatha is an advocate and the couple had three children. Their daughter Nandini’s marriage was fixed in September this year.

Their elder son Suman is an engineer and younger son Nandeesh is pursuing his  MBBS course. Family members said that both Shankaraiah and Pushpalatha toiled for the well-being and education of their children and his suicide was a shock to them.

Hearing the news of death, Pushpalatha and one of her sons rushed to T. Narasipur this morning. Additional Superintendent of Police N. Rudramuni came to the spot along with dog squad and finger prints experts. Further investigation is on.