A 45-year-old additional deputy president of HDFC Bank’s Vibhuti Khand branch in Lucknow fell off her chair and died in her office on Tuesday.

The initial medical report suggests that Sadaf Fatima died of a heart attack. There were suggestions from some quarters that work pressure could be a reason.

Office staff claimed that Sadaf was working in the afternoon when she fell from her chair in her cabin. They rushed her to Lohia Hospital in the city where she was declared dead.

Sunil Kumar Singh, the investigating officer of Gomti Nagar police station under which Vibhuti Khand falls, said: “We are investigating every possible angle. The post-mortem report is awaited.”

“She lived in the Wazirganj area of Lucknow. Her colleagues have told us that she fell from her chair around 3pm. They took her to hospital where she was declared dead,” Singh said.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said: “Such incidents are taking place because of work pressure. While the finance minister is giving a lecture on stress management, the pressure on the government as well as corporate employees is increasing every day. They are not allowed to speak on any issue within or outside the organisation. They are worse than bonded labourers.”

An employee of the branch said on condition of anonymity: “Every employee has a target to achieve or else lose his or her job. Obviously, such incidents will happen under work pressure.”

Sadaf’s relative Mohammad Mazhar said: “Her father Ishrat Ali had died a few years ago. She used to live with her mother Kaniza and younger sister, Sadiya.”

“She had pain in her chest a few days ago and was admitted to Lari Hospital at King George Medical University. She was discharged on Saturday and had joined work
on Tuesday.”