Sri Vijaya Puram, June 11: In a tragic incident on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island (Ross Island) early this morning, four cheetal (spotted) deer were found dead, reportedly electrocuted due to an underground electricity leak following a night of heavy rainfall.
Preliminary reports suggest the overnight rain softened the soil, potentially compromising underground power cables and allowing current to leak into the ground. The electrocution has raised serious concerns about electrical safety on the island, which is home to free-roaming deer and is a major tourist destination managed by the Andaman and Nicobar Tourism Department.
“This is a serious lapse. Electrical safety and wildlife protection must go hand-in-hand, especially in ecologically sensitive zones like Ross Island,” said a senior forest official who visited the site.
Senior officials from the Forest Department, Electricity Department, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Administration have launched a joint inquiry to determine the exact cause of the leakage and assess the current state of the island’s power infrastructure.
The cheetal deer, introduced to the Andamans during British colonial rule, are classified as “Least Concern” globally by the IUCN but remain under local monitoring due to their limited population. Their deaths mark a significant loss for the island’s biodiversity.
Environmental groups and conservationists have expressed concern over the incident, urging immediate safety audits and stronger coordination between tourism and forest authorities. Many have linked the deaths to rapid infrastructure development on the island, which has seen an increase in tourist footfall since its handover from the Indian Navy to the Tourism Department in 2021.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, known for its colonial ruins and lush landscapes, has long been a symbol of heritage tourism in the Andamans. The latest incident has reignited debate over the cost of development in ecologically fragile zones and the urgent need for reinforced wildlife protection measures.
