A tusker died after coming into contact with a sagging 11,000-volt overhead power line near Tetari village in Rania area of Jharkhand’s Khunti district, prompting the forest department to order a survey of low-hanging wires across elephant movement corridors.
The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday, with an initial medical examination placing the time of death between 4 am and 6 am. Forest officials said the elephant was around 25 years old. Its carcass was found beside a road leading to a school and used regularly by local residents and motorists.
Khunti divisional forest officer Dilip Kumar, who visited the site, said a preliminary examination indicated that the tusker died after coming into contact with high-voltage wires. Three distinct wire marks were found on the elephant’s body, he said. A postmortem examination will be conducted to establish the cause of death. No case had been registered in connection with the incident at the time of the report.
The power line was hanging approximately seven to eight feet above the ground, according to Kumar. He said the wire was located amid bushes and was difficult to see, creating a risk not only to elephants but also to people using the road. “It could have caused death to even a human carrying a stick,” Kumar said.
Residents told the newspaper that the wire had been hanging close to the ground for several days. Some villagers also claimed that complaints had been made to the electricity department, although the report does not state whether those complaints were formally recorded or when action was sought.
Following the death, the forest department directed its staff and elephant-driving units to inspect Rania, Tapkara and other areas where elephant movement is common. The survey will identify low-hanging wires in elephant corridors and produce a report for further action.
Kumar said the electricity department had previously been informed about sagging wires in elephant movement areas. He said officials would examine whether corrective measures had been taken and hold discussions with the electricity department.
James Kujur, executive engineer of the electricity department in Khunti district, said a detailed project report for raising power lines in the elephant corridor had been sent to senior officials more than a year ago and was still awaiting approval. He said some wires were installed at a maximum height of 14 to 15 feet but could sag between two poles and come into contact with large elephants when they raised their trunks.
The forest department’s survey across Rania, Tapkara and other vulnerable areas is the next stated step. Its findings are expected to determine the locations requiring corrective work on overhead power lines in elephant corridors.
