It has been confirmed – the 18 wild elephants died in Assam due to high-voltage electric current.
The Department of Pathology of the College of Veterinary Science at Khanapara in Guwahati on Sunday issued the Histopathological report of the tissues of 18 elephants killed.
On May 13, a total of 18 wild elephants were found dead under mysterious circumstances atop Bamuni Hills under Barhampur police station in Assam’s Nagaon district.
Also read: Assam: 18 wild elephants found dead under mysterious circumstances in Nagaon
While the carcasses of the four elephants were found dead lying on the foothills, the rest were spotted atop the hills.
Forest officials said the report of the elephant deaths came in the afternoon on May 13 after local villagers informed them.
However, a section of people suspected that the elephants might have died due to poisoning.
But the laboratory report has put a stop to all such suspicions.
Also read: Assam: Veterinary experts conduct post-mortem of 18 elephants that died of ‘lightning strike’
“The tissue sections of skin from various locations reveal desquamation of keratinized layer, distortion and separation of intra-epidermal tissues, disintegration of cellular details and architecture resulting homogenous eosinophilic and basophilic areas,” the laboratory examination report read.
“There is separation of epidermal and dermal layers. Highly dilated and congested blood vessels and severe hemorrhages observed in the dermal papillae as well as in the sub-epidermal region,” it added.
The report said: “Lesions are suggestive of high voltage electrical burn injury.”
The report has been signed by S.M. Tamuli, Professor and Head of the Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University at Khanapara and A. Deka, Assistant Professor of the Department of Pathology of the veterinary college.