Patna: Stress because of personal issues as well as workplace tensions has been identified as a major trigger of depression.

Additional municipal commissioner Uday Krishna, whose body was found on the tracks near Gulzarbagh railway station on Wednesday morning, was depressed for months and even wanted to quit his job.

It is not yet clear whether the senior civic body official killed himself or he was murdered. His family has filed a murder case, but they also acknowledged that he was suffering from depression for months.

Uday's younger brother Abhay Krishna claimed Uday was depressed because of office politics.

"My brother used to say he will go to jail," Abhay said. "He feared action would be initiated against him. He was so depressed with work he even avoided talking to people at home."

Psychologists say work pressure and relationship troubles are key factors for depression and the mental illness can drive a person to suicide. "Prima facie, it appears that the additional municipal commissioner was frustrated for long time and this frustration might have lead him to take such a drastic step," said city-based clinical psychologist Binda Singh. She said Uday should have shared his mental problems with his family members.

According to the psychologist, various factors, such as academic pressure, personal relationship break-ups, pressure at work, inter-personal violence and intimate partner violence are some of the key reasons for depression among people.

"In recent times we have been witnessing an increase in cases of depression among working professionals, especially among bank officials, persons working in corporate houses and even government employees."

Patrakar Nagar police station house officer (SHO) Sanjeet Kumar Sinha said: "The police have interrogated several persons including PMC staff and officials and even talked to family members in connection with Uday Krishna's death."

Police officials said they will also go through Uday's call details. Family members claimed when he didn't return home at night and they called up his cellphone, it was found to be switched off after 10.45pm.