Guwahati, Dec 26 (PTI) Two elephants were electrocuted to death after coming in contact with electric fences in Assam's Sivasagar district on Saturday, a forest official said.

The female elephants, aged 23 and 26, came in contact with the electric fences erected by residents of Dighal Dariali village to protect their crops, Sivasagar Assistant Conservator of Forests Champak Deka said.

The post-mortem reports have confirmed that they died due to electrocution, he said.

The matter is being investigated and an action will be taken under the Wildlife Protection Act if any foul play is found, Deka said.

Another official claimed that the area where the incident took place is a part of the Pani Dihing Bird Sanctuary and some locals were illegally cultivating grazing land.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)