Latehar, September 7: A wild elephant died after coming into contact with a live electric wire in Latehar district of Jharkhand, officials said on Monday.The incident was reported during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday in Kusi Tola of Komar village, under Jhabar Panchayat in the Balumath police station area.
According to local information, a herd of nearly 15 elephants had entered the area and was moving towards agricultural fields. One of the elephants reportedly came into contact with an electrified wire and suffered a fatal electric shock.
Residents said the herd had been present in the area for several days and had allegedly damaged crops and houses during its movement.
A villager, identified as Bifa Oraon, had reportedly put up electric fencing around his house to prevent elephants from entering his property and damaging crops. The elephant came into contact with the wire while moving through the area at night.
The incident has once again brought attention to the challenges of human-elephant conflict in forest-fringe areas of Jharkhand.
Officials and local communities face the continuing challenge of protecting crops and homes while ensuring the safety of elephants and other wildlife.
The incident is also likely to raise concerns over the use of exposed electrical wires as a method of preventing wildlife from entering residential and agricultural areas.
