Hyderabad: In a surprising trend, suicides among govt employees in Telangana have surpassed those among farmers by more than three times, challenging the common perception that govt employees are financially secure and socially stable.According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau, 145 govt employees died by suicide in Telangana in 2024. This included 21 central govt employees, 86 state govt employees, and the remaining employees working in statutory bodies. During the same period, 43 farmers died by suicide in the state.Particularly concerning is the steady rise in suicides among govt employees. The number more than doubled from 69 in 2022 to 145 in 2024. The situation is even more alarming among other salaried employees, where the suicide rate is nearly 20 times higher than that of farmers. Most of these deaths were caused by poisoning, hanging, or jumping from buildings.The Telangana Gazetted Officers Association attributed the suicides to multiple factors, including financial stress, marital disputes, and the social stigma faced by employees when extramarital affairs become public. The association noted that such cases are particularly common among employees appointed on compassionate grounds, who often grow up with financial security through their parents’ service benefits but later struggle to cope with personal and marital challenges.“Some new entrants prepare for competitive examinations such as UPSC, Group I and Group II services, but eventually secure Class III, Class IV, or teaching posts. Many struggle to reconcile their aspirations with their working conditions, which can lead to severe mental distress. Drug addiction has also emerged as a contributing factor in some cases,” said Eluri Srinivasa Rao, president, Telangana Gazetted Officers Association.Last year, an income tax official allegedly died by suicide after jumping from the Central Govt Offices Towers in Kavadiguda, reportedly due to ill health. In another case in 2024, a judicial officer serving as a first class magistrate in the excise court at Nampally allegedly died by suicide following a dispute with his wife.Meanwhile, student suicides in the state continue to show a disturbing upward trend. The number increased from 582 in 2023 to 763 in 2025, making the student suicide rate nearly 17 times higher than that of farmers in the state.A decade-long analysis highlights a significant shift in suicide patterns. Farmer suicides declined sharply from 1,358 in 2015 to 43 in 2024. In contrast, student suicides rose steadily during the same period, increasing from 481 to 763.Psychologists attribute the growing number of student suicides to intense academic pressure from parents and teachers, emotional distress arising from failed relationships, and anxiety linked to delayed employment opportunities and campus placements.
