An adult tusker died of electrocution in Alipurduar after coming into contact with a power cable on Tuesday night.
In 10 months, this was the fourth elephant death in the district from electrocution.
However, unlike previous times when elephants touched illegal power fences put up by villagers in fields, on Tuesday the tusker came into contact with a cable of the West Bengal Electricity Distribution Company Limited that snapped at Uttar Mendabari village in Kalchini block.
The village is under the Kodalbasti range of Jaldapara wildlife division.
On Wednesday, villagers on spotting the carcass told foresters. “The tusker, eating the leaves of a tree, touched a low-tension power cable that snapped,” said a source.
A survey will be done to check such loose cables soon.