Ranchi: A wild elephant died after coming into contact with a dangerously low-hanging high-voltage electricity wire in Jharkhand’s Khunti district on Thursday morning, raising fresh concerns over the safety of wildlife in forest-fringe areas.
The incident occurred around 5 a.m. in Tetari village under the Rania police station area. The elephant’s carcass was later discovered in bushes near a government girls’ middle school.
According to villagers, the elephant was moving towards the village from the Koel River side when it came into contact with an 11,000-volt electricity line hanging unusually close to the ground. The powerful electric shock reportedly killed the animal instantly.
After receiving information about the incident, Forest Department officials, police personnel and electricity department employees rushed to the spot and inspected the area. An investigation has been initiated to establish the circumstances that led to the elephant’s death.
The incident has once again highlighted the risks posed by poorly maintained or sagging electricity lines in areas frequented by wild elephants, particularly in villages located close to forest corridors.
Meanwhile, villagers said a herd of around 12 elephants has been moving through the forests and nearby settlements of Rania block for nearly two months. The animals frequently venture into villages and agricultural fields, damaging standing crops and, in some instances, houses.
Their repeated movement through inhabited areas has left residents concerned about both human safety and the possibility of further wildlife casualties.
The latest incident adds to a worrying pattern of elephant deaths in Jharkhand. According to the report, seven elephants have died in separate incidents across the state over the past two months.
A similar tragedy was reported from West Bengal in September, when three elephants, including a mother and her two calves, were found dead in a paddy field in Salboni area of West Midnapore district.
A preliminary investigation suggested that the elephants had been electrocuted after coming into contact with a live high-tension wire connected to an electric irrigation pump installed in the agricultural field.
The recurring incidents have brought attention to the need for safer electricity infrastructure in elephant movement zones, including regular inspection of power lines and measures to prevent accidental contact between wildlife and live electrical wires.
–IANS