March 25, 2018: One person died in Dhanlekha village under Gomati district in Tripura while he was catching fish from a rivulet using a live wire.
In several tribal hamlets, people – instead of traditional methods – are using ‘electrocution’ method for catching fish easily and quickly. It was a profitable and time-saving method to many people of Dhanlekha village in Ampinagar until the method hit a tragic blow and one Rastra Kalai (19) of the village died on spot while catching fish. The incidence occurred couple of days ago.
Simply speaking, people use a live wire to catch fish by putting the wire in flowing water of a river or rivulet. This instantly electrocutes large area of the water and receiving the electric shock fishes too die immediately. This method is easy as no fish catching specialization is required – except for knowledge of setting up hook line from overhead electric supply lines or from batteries.
“Fruits of development – expansion electric supply coverage – used in a forbidden manner proved fatal for Rastra. This is not for the first time, elsewhere in the State, several young people died of electrocution while catching fishes in the past– however, we have not learnt a lesson and paid the price”, one Ishendra Kalai of Ampinagar.
Local sources alleged, Rastra illegally set up a hook line to catch fishes. The shock was so powerful that he died on spot and left thumb was found burnt severely. As neighbours brought him to nearby Ampi Hospital, Attending doctor announced him ‘brought dead’ and handed over the body to relatives of the deceased after post mortem.
In the wake death of a young boy, local people have become concerned about growing trend of catching fish using electricity and feeling need of community participation to stop illegal use of electric power for catching fish.
