Bhubaneswar: As many as 27 elephants have died due to electrocution in the last five years, with 17 of these deaths occurring in western Odisha alone, informed Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo in the State Assembly on Wednesday.
Energy Minister Singh Deo’s reply came in response to a question raised by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Arun Sahu.
According to data provided by the Minister, in 2020-21, there was one incident of elephant death due to electrocution. While two such fatalities were reported in 2021-22 and 2023-24, the number of deaths was two. The highest number of elephant deaths due to electrocution was recorded in 2024-25, with 11 deaths.
To address the growing concern of elephant electrocution, the Odisha government has reaffirmed its commitment to mitigating this risk. A multi-pronged approach is being implemented, which includes strengthening power infrastructure in wildlife-prone areas to prevent accidental electrocution, regular maintenance of transmission lines to ensure they are secure and do not pose a threat to wildlife, enhancing coordination between the forest and energy departments to facilitate real-time information sharing and prompt action.
