Retrospective study of fatal electrocution in a rural region of western Maharashtra, India

A retrospective study was undertaken of all cases of deaths due to electrocution which were autopsied at the Mortuary of Pravara Rural Hospital, Loni a rural area in Western Maharashtra over a period of 10 years from July 2004 to June 2014. Data of the study was gathered from autopsy reports and hospital records. The cases represented approximately 2.31% of all autopsy cases. All 53 deaths investigated were accidental in nature. The age range in our study was 2-67 years and majority of the victims (79.25%) were males belonging to the age group of 11-30 years. There was an increase in the electrocution deaths in monsoon season (49.06%). The upper extremity was the most frequently involved contact site (75.47%). No electrical burn mark was present in 5 cases (9.43%). 50 cases were brought dead in our rural hospital while three cases died in hospital. The findings of our study suggest that majority of the victims died in non-domestic environment in the rural region, most commonly in the farm which reflects the necessity of educating the farmers regarding proper use and precautions to be taken while handling electrically powered equipments. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.