Madikeri: A wild tusker, which had strayed into a private coffee estate in search of food and water, was electrocuted after it touched a sagging 11 KV power line, passing through the coffee estate at Kutta village, Srimangala hobli in Ponnampet taluk yesterday early morning. The tusker was said to be aged between 40 and 45 years.

The coffee estate belongs to one Pravardhan Poojari and is located next to the Kali Temple in Kutta. There is a 11 KV power line passing at a very less height through the estate. The wild tusker, which strayed into the estate, touched the live power line with its truck while trying to break a branch and was electrocuted immediately. Meanwhile, villagers alleged that negligence on the part of CESC had led to the incident. They said that there is a distance of about 300 mts from one electric pole to another, causing the power line to sag very low which resulted in the wild elephant being electrocuted.

Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) B.M. Sharanabasappa visited the spot. Dubare Elephant Camp Veterinarian Dr. B.T. Chittiappa conducted the post-mortem.

DCF Sharanabasappa said that following information from Ponnampet Range Forest Officer (RFO) Shankar, a spot inspection was conducted and added that the post-mortem showed that the wild elephant had died of electrocution as it had touched the 11 KV power line with its trunk. “Despite bringing it to the notice of CESC to set right the sagging power lines many times, no action has been taken,” the DCF added.

Dr. Chittiappa too said that the negligence on the part of CESC had led to the death of the                         wild tusker.

CESC Junior Engineer S. Nagendra Prasad said that the incident has been brought to the notice of senior officers. “The works to set right the sagging power lines is being undertaken with the help from the Forest Department from one side and meanwhile this incident took place. A team will be sent to this spot immediately and the works will be taken up,” he added.

Kutta Circle Inspector Ravishankar, Deputy RFO Ganesh, Nagaraj Shet, Rakshit, Antony Prakash and Rapid Response Team (RRT) members were present.