Wild elephant electrocuted in Chittoor district; Pawan Kalyan orders inquiry
The elephant came into contact with wires connected to a farm pump on Monday night; Deputy Chief Minister asked for power lines in wildlife areas to be kept at safe heights
A male elephant died after receiving an electrical shock in a mango orchard near Papireddigaripalle, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. The incident occurred on Monday night (August 31, 2026) when the elephant is believed to have accidentally come into contact with live wires connected to a water pump at a ground-level farm well.
The elephant was part of a herd of 13 that had been moving through the forest stretches between Chittoor, Tirupati, and Annamayya districts, and had been trampling groundnut fields before entering the mango orchard. A woman farmer discovered the carcass on Tuesday and reported it to forest officials. District Forest Officer G. Subburaj and Forest Range Officers from Chittoor and Piler conducted an initial assessment at the site.
Deputy Chief Minister and Forest and Environment Minister K. Pawan Kalyan expressed sorrow over the loss and ordered a thorough investigation, requesting a detailed report be submitted. He emphasized the need to bury the elephant only after a post-mortem examination in compliance with wildlife regulations and protocols. Pawan Kalyan also called for measures to prevent such incidents in the future and urged close coordination between the Forest and Electricity Departments to identify risks and protect wildlife in forested and adjoining regions.
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