Politics · India Bureau
Wild elephant dies after contact with farm pump wiring in Andhra Pradesh
An elephant in Chittoor district was electrocuted after coming into contact with wires connected to a farm pump, prompting the state's Deputy Chief Minister to order an inquiry into safety standards for power infrastructure in wildlife areas.
LSN India ·
A wild elephant died in Chittoor district on Monday night after making contact with electrical wiring connected to an agricultural pump, authorities confirmed. The incident has raised fresh concerns about the proximity of power lines to elephant corridors and wildlife habitats across Andhra Pradesh.
The elephant came into direct contact with live wires while moving through the area where the pump installation was located. Such electrocution incidents have become increasingly common in regions where wildlife habitats overlap with agricultural and rural electrification infrastructure.
Following the incident, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has directed officials to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death. He has also ordered that power lines in and around wildlife zones be positioned at safer heights to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The directive reflects growing pressure on state authorities to implement stricter safety protocols in areas frequented by wild animals. Wildlife experts have long flagged the dangers posed by improperly installed or inadequately insulated electrical infrastructure in elephant-prone regions, where the animals regularly migrate in search of food and water.