Electrocution of Animals: Can We Reduce Domestic Power Supply Volts?

In this article, Nava Thakuria says that today electrocution has emerged as a major cause of death of wildlife such as elephants. Various government sources confirm that India lost over 470 elephants (along with more than 220 flamingos, 150 leopards, 45 tigers, etc.) to electrocution injuries during 2014 to 2020 fiscal years. To prevent such fatalities in the future, the decrease of domestic supply voltage will definitely be a major policy shift for the vast country with the high population as it would need a huge volume of resources with adequate preparedness and public awareness. A long-term plan will be needed with a strong political will from both the Centre and State governments.

- Nava Thakuria

The recent incident of electrocution death of a 16-year-old boy at Bhupen Hazarika Samadhi Kshetra in Jalukbari is heart breaking. Subham Kumar Roy from Pandu locality of Guwahati accidentally touched the fountain water inside the campus and sustained severe electric jerks (as the water was unfortunately connected to the live power supply). The high school student was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to injuries.

No doubt, the incident should (could) have been avoided and Subham been saved if some basic safety measures endorsed by the central electricity authority were taken while using electric supply lines to any appliance (in private or public places). But Subham is neither the first case of electrocution death nor it would be the last in India, as the country annually loses over 11,000 people to similar incidents (as revealed by the national crime records bureau). Accidental electrocution (including few suicidal) cases are reportedly high in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Kerala, Odisha, Uttarakhand, etc. Though low in numbers, Assam loses 50 to 100 people annually because of electrocution deaths (as stated by Assam Power Development Corporation Limited).

The State lost nearly 400 people to electrocution incidents between financial years 2019 and 2022. It recorded 78 incidents of electrocution where 82 people died and three were injured in 2019. Next year, 112 cases were reported with 112 casualties with injury to one. In 2021, it recorded 91 cases with 89 deaths and wounds to four people. Next year, it recorded 91 cases with 89 casualties and injuries to four individuals.