Andhra Pradesh: Four Elephants Electrocuted To Death In Parvatipuram Manyam District

Villagers said the elephants probably came in contact with an electric transformer, leading to their death.

Villagers said the elephants came into contact with the transformer, leading to their deaths. ( Image Source :ABP Desam )

Four elephants were electrocuted to death in the Parvatipuram-Manyam district of Andhra Pradesh on Friday, IANS reported. The incident occurred at Katragadda village under the Bhamini mandal near the Odisha border. A herd of six elephants had recently entered the area from neighboring Odisha.

The tuskers were found lying dead close to an electric transformer in the village. Villagers said the elephants probably came in contact with the transformer, leading to their death.

Police and forest department officials rushed to the village after they were alerted by the villagers and an investigation has been started. The electric transformer was not protected by a boundary wall.

The incident occurred even as the forest department was working on a plan to create an elephant zone for 14 elephants, including eight already existing in the forest.

Forest officials said they would take steps to protect the remaining 10 jumbos.

Animal rights activists have demanded immediate measures to establish an elephant rehabilitation center. They have contended that elephants were being forced to come out of their habitation for food and water in the current summer season but were becoming victims of electrocution and other incidents.

According to the Hindustan Times report, the Orissa High Court on Wednesday directed four power distribution companies in Odisha to prepare a time-bound plan to survey all villages that have seen movement, attacks, or crop destruction by wild animals, as well as those that have seen deaths of such animals due to electrocution.

Taking a strong exception to the deaths of 18 elephants and 20 people in man-elephant conflicts over the past two months, of whom four died of electrocution, the court said not enough steps have been taken to prevent the deaths of elephants due to electrocution in Odisha.