High voltage wire leaves tusker dead in Garhwa
PNS n Garhwa
A male wild tuskar, which strayed into the fields, was electrocuted after coming into contact with an LT live wire at Naya Tola of Bisharampur village on Thursday night.
According to villagers, a herd of more than three wild tuskers marched into fields of the village with standing crops of paddy and pulses at around 8 p.m. on Thursday. Their rampage continued till small hours, while the farmers kept away from making any bid to drive them away since it being a large herd.
The farmers at night vigil in the surroundings reported wild trumpeting of the herd between 8 pm night and 11 pm. After receiving information about the incident, a team of forest officials reached the spot in the small hours, and reported the matter to the higher officials.
Divisional Forest Officer (South) Abhirup Sinha said that the cause of the elephant’s death was electrocution. “It’s a huge animal and while passing under a sagging LT power line, it came into contact with it, resulting in the tragedy. There is absolutely nothing wrong on the part of the landowner,” the official said.
Interestingly, the elephant which met its tragic end strayed away from the main herd and collapsed a distance away after getting electrocuted. Had the entire herd moved in the same direction, it would have been a major tragedy to the herd, it was observed.
The officials of the electricity department committed gross negligence while laying electric wires through sanctuaries and forests in the State. They should have enveloped the electric wires passing through forests according to the guidelines of the government, one forest officer added.
On the matter of giving electricity connection with the help of bamboo, villager Akhilesh Kujur said, "We have been consuming electricity in our homes since 1999 by drawing power lines using bamboo and wooden poles. Electricity is provided by the electricity department and the bill also comes and we also make payment."
On the other hand Executive Engineer Jharkhand Bidut Vitran Nigam, Garhwa , said, "No connection has been given by me with the help of bamboo poles. The villagers laid wire according to their needs."