Five elephants electrocuted in Jharkhand forest

JAMSHEDPUR: A herd of five wild elephants — two calves, two adult females, and a male — met a tragic end as they were electrocuted after coming into contact with a high-tension overhead electrical wire in a forest in Musabani block of Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum district. Villagers discovered the carcasses on Tuesday morning when they entered the forest for firewood.

According to ranger Digvijay Singh, the herd was traversing a clay mound near a trench when an elephants’ trunk inadvertently made contact with a 33KV live overhead transmission line, leading to electrocution. The close proximity of the herd resulted in the other four elephants also being affected, ultimately leading to the demise of the entire group. “A veterinary team is being assembled to conduct autopsies, and a separate team will examine the matter in detail,” Singh said.

Singh cited the necessity for a higher overhead wire, considering the terrain with clay mound along the trench.