Wild Elephant Electrocuted by Low-Hanging Power Line in Belur Taluk, Hassan

A 25-year-old wild female elephant was electrocuted in Kogile mane village, located in the Bikkodu hobli of Belur taluk in Hassan district. The tragic incident occurred on Sunday night when the elephant, which was part of a roaming herd of 18 wild jumbos, came into contact with a live high-tension wire hanging dangerously close to the ground. Local residents in the village bid an emotional farewell to the jumbo and expressed anger against the electricity utility for failing to maintain safe power lines. Following the incident, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Saurabh Kumar stated that the Forest Department has filed an official case against officials of the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) for negligence. Forest officials emphasized that overhead power cables in elephant corridors are required to be placed well above standard height limits to prevent such hazards. The Assistant Executive Engineer for CESC in Belur acknowledged the department's lapse and mentioned that a formal proposal to upgrade and elevate the power lines in the area had already been submitted for clearance.