Elephant electrocuted in Dhemaji’s Jonai

Dibrugarh: A male Asian wild elephant, estimated to be around 60 years of age, was electrocution in the early hours of Friday after coming in contact with a live wire at Luhijan village under Jonai in Dhemaji district.The incident occurred at approximately 2am when the elephant entered the village and approached a paddy barn belonging to a local farmer. While attempting to feed on the stored paddy, the animal came in contact with a live wire and was electrocuted on the spot.Villagers, who were alerted by the commotion, informed the forest department at around 6am. Forest officials rushed to the site and took stock of the situation. The carcass of the elephant was found near the paddy barn. “After the post mortem is completed, the carcass will be buried deep in the ground at the site,” an official said. He stated that an investigation has also been initiated to determine the circumstances that led to the death of the animal.Locals said the elephant had been venturing into the village repeatedly from the Poba Reserve Forest over the past several days and raiding the grain barns of villagers. “This elephant had been coming to our village for the last several days and stealing grain from our barns. We were already worried about the damage it was causing,” said a villager.The death has cast a shadow of concern over the local community, with residents expressing both grief and unease. The use of live electric wires as a deterrent against wildlife intrusion is a practice that is sometimes followed by farmers. The illegal practice has resulted in the deaths of elephants and other animals across the state from time to time, drawing criticism from wildlife activists and conservationists.Human-elephant conflict remains a persistent problem in several districts of Assam, including Dhemaji, where elephant herds frequently venture into human settlements in search of food, causing damage to crops and property and at times, loss of human life as well.Forest department officials have urged villagers not to use live electric wires or any other harmful methods to keep wild animals at bay and instead report elephant movement to the authorities for prompt intervention.