Bhubaneswar: Odisha has reported 45 human deaths and nine elephant fatalities due to escalating human-animal conflicts in the last five months, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia informed the state assembly on Tuesday.
In a written reply to a question by Kantamal MLA Kanhai Charan Danga, Minister Singhkhuntia stated that between April 1 and September 15, 2025, seven elephants died due to electrocution, one was killed in a train accident, and another succumbed to poaching.
To prevent further elephant deaths caused by electrocution, the Forest Department, in coordination with the Energy Department, has been actively implementing a series of measures in sensitive areas.
These measures include covering exposed electric wires, bending iron spikes on electric poles, erecting fences around transformers, maintaining hanging wires at appropriate heights, temporarily cutting off electricity when elephants enter villages, and installing barriers in poaching-prone regions.
Additionally, both departments are conducting extensive public awareness campaigns to educate local communities about coexistence and safety.
