A 15-year-old male elephant was found dead in a field in Shahdol district, Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, with preliminary reports suggesting the animal died of electrocution near a borewell. The carcass was discovered in Ward No. 7 of Chandoli village in the Bansagar area, under the jurisdiction of Devalond police station.

What Authorities Found at the Scene

Forest Department and police teams rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident and launched a formal investigation. Officials are examining how electricity may have spread into the field — whether a fault in the electrical system near the borewell or some other cause was responsible for the suspected electrocution.

A Forest Department official stated, 'The circumstances surrounding the elephant's death are being investigated. The cause of death and other details will be clear after the necessary examination.' The exact cause of death and any possible negligence will be established only after a full inquiry, officials said.

Wildlife Activists Raise Alarm

The incident has deepened concerns among wildlife advocates over the recurring deaths of wild animals due to suspected electrocution in Madhya Pradesh. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey reacted sharply on social media platform X, alleging that accountability had not been fixed in earlier incidents involving an elephant and a tiger that were reportedly electrocuted.

'How many more wild animals must die before the Forest Department fixes responsibility? We demand an immediate high-level probe and strict action against officials found negligent,' Dubey said. His remarks underline a pattern of concern that critics argue the state authorities have repeatedly failed to address.

Elephant Movement and Crop Damage in the Region

The incident comes just a day after villagers in Sejhari village, under Jagmal panchayat in the Bansagar area, reported damage caused by a herd of elephants that approached the settlement in the evening, damaging crops and mud houses. Elephant herds have been moving through the forested and hilly terrain around Devalond and Bansagar for several years.

According to reports, more than a dozen elephants have been roaming the region, though it has not yet been confirmed whether the elephant found dead in Chandoli village belonged to this particular herd. Villagers gathered at the site after word spread of the animal's death.

Pattern of Wildlife Electrocution Deaths

This incident adds to a troubling record of wildlife fatalities linked to stray or faulty electrical infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh. Notably, Dubey's remarks reference prior cases — involving both an elephant and a tiger — where, he alleges, no responsibility was fixed. Wildlife groups have long demanded stricter enforcement of electrical safety norms in forest-fringe zones where human-animal conflict is already high.

The Forest Department's investigation is ongoing, and further details, including post-mortem findings, are awaited. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of negligence by those responsible for electrical infrastructure in the area.