1 st January2010 to 1 st January 2016; of them, 64 cases of death due to electrocution were analyzed. Results:

In this study, majority of the victims were men (90.62) aged between 11 and 40 years (87.5). In 46.87 cases, victims were electrocuted at electric pole contact and all cases (100) were accidental in nature. In most of the victims, limbs (75.00) were involved due to a contact with electric source followed by the cases. In this study, we observed that the incidences were typically higher in late monsoon season (59.37) as compared to other seasons, which shows that there is a characteristic seasonal variation in cases of electrocution. Conclusion: Electric injury varies from nil to severe destruction of tissues, so in all cases of death due to electrocution meticulous autopsy should be performed to help the investigations for the purpose of compensation and to plan future safety measures. Pattern of fatal electrocution injuries in this study is more or less similar to that observed in most of the other studies conducted by various authors and the incidences are typically higher in the rainy season.

Keywords: Electrocution, burns, accidental death, injury

INTRODUCTION OR BACK GROUND

performance of their duties. In addition, many people in different daily activities deal with it. Many people

Electricity is an integral part of modern society.

know that the principal danger from electricity is that of

Electrical burns are responsible for considerable

electrocution, but few really understand how minute a

morbidity and mortality and are usually preventable

quantity of electrical energy is required for electrocution.

with simple safety measures. 1,2 Almost all fatalities

In reality, the current drawn by a tiny 7.5 W, 120-volt

by electrocution are accidental, while homicides and

lamp, passed from hand to hand or hand to foot across the

suicides from electricity are rare or uncommon. 2 Many

chest is sufficient to cause electrocution. 3 The number

workers are exposed to electrical energy daily during

of people who believe that normal household current is

the performance of their tasks. Electricity is a ubiquitous

not lethal or that power lines are insulated and do not

energy agent to which many workers in different

pose a hazard is alarming. Electrocutions may result

occupations and industries are exposed daily in the

from contact with an object as seemingly innocuous as

a broken light bulb or as lethal as an overhead power

Corresponding author:

line and might have affected workers, since the first

B. S. Satish Babu

electrical fatality was recorded in France in 1879 when a

Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine,

stage carpenter was killed by an alternating current (AC)

J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India

of 250 volts. 4 Death due to electrocution involves both

577004, Email id :drsatishbabubsgmail.com

low- and high-voltage currents, however, most deaths

Mobile : 09986587292

45 Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine Toxicology, April-June 2018, Vol. 12, No. 2

are due to low-voltage currents used in houses and minor

Most of the victims (39.00) were in the third

industrial settings. The type of power system employed

decade of their life,23 cases were found in second

in India is an AC 220–240 V, 50 A. The epidemiology

decade ( 35.93), 8 cases belonged to age group

of electrical fatalities in and around Ballari, India

31-40 years(12.5),3 cases in age group of 41-50

is described between 2008 and 2012. This study:

years (4.68), 2 cases belonged to age group71-80

highlights the magnitude of the problem of occupational

years(3.12). one each case was found in age groups

and home accidental electrocutions in and around

1-10 years,51-60 years and 61-70 years(1.56) .

Ballari, identifies potential risk factors for fatal injury,

Around three-fourths belonged to younger and adult age

and provides recommendations for developing effective

groups (e.g., from 11 to 30 years).

safety programs to reduce the risk of electrocution. It is hoped that this study will serve as a valuable resource

Table No. 02. Profile of age

for safety and public health professionals, safety and

1-10 yrs

health trainers, researchers, and others who can affect the prevention of accidental electrocutions.

11-20 yrs

MATERIAL AND METhOD 25

21- 30 yrs

31-40 yrs

This retrospective study was conducted in the

Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of 03 V.I.M.S, Ballari, Karnataka, India. Total 5590 autopsies

41-50 yrs

51-60 yrs

were conducted from 1 st Jan 2010 to 1 st Jan 2016, and

61-70yrs

of them, 64 cases (1.14) in which death were alleged

due to fatal electrocution were selected for this study. 2 All these cases were studied irrespective of their age

71-80yrs

We tried to find out the seasonal and diurnal

and gender, and we also tried to find out the seasonal

variations in cases of death due to electrocution, and

and diurnal variations, if any, in cases of electrocution.

we observed a characteristic seasonal variation. In

Detailed and complete autopsy examination was

this study, incidences of death due electric injury were

conducted with the aim to find the area of body parts

typically higher(38 cases,59.37) in the season of late

affected and types of electric injury, whether it is a

monsoon and post monsoon, which was in the months

contact injury or flash burns due to a spark. Information

of September to December in Ballari, from 2010 to

regarding the incidence of electrocution was collected

2016.15 cases(23.43) in early monsoon and 11 cases

from the police papers, and autopsy reports were taken

(17.18) in winter.

into consideration to conclude the manner of death, whether it was suicidal, accidental, or homicidal in

Table No. 03. Profile of Month wise distribution

nature. Finally, the data were collected and analyzed after comparing with those of Indian and foreign authors. September-

FINDINGS: RESULTS

We analyzed 64 cases of fatal electric injury, which

Majority of the incidences (41 cases: 64.06)

were brought to us for the autopsy examination from

happened during the daytime between 7 AM and 7 PM

1 st January 2010 to 1 st January 2016. Majority of the

as compared to night( 23 cases:35.93). In most of the

victims were men (90.62) as compared to women,

incidences, victims were injured by electrocution when

with a malefemale ratio of 9.6:1.

they were at home (64.06) and working with some electric source.

Table No.01. Profile of sex

Table No.04.Profile of Diurnal variation.

Male

Female

Day time

Night time

Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine Toxicology, April-June 2018, Vol. 12, No. 2 46

Upper limbs were the most common body part

(87.5) ], which is consistent with the findings of most

affected by electrocution in more than three fourth(48

of the other authors. 5–9 . We made an effort to analyze

cases:75.00) of the cases and contact wound of

the cases according to seasonal and diurnal variations

electrocution was also noticed.

and observed a characteristic higher incidence of fatal electrocution in the season of late monsoon, which

Table No. 05. Profile of Site of body involved in

is in the months of September to December in this

electrical injuries

area. These results were slightly consistent with the

observations made by Gupta et al.[4] and Kumar et al. , whereas Shaha and Joe 11 and Sheikhazadi et al. 12 found

48 13 03 higher incidences of fatal electrocution in summer

In our study, all cases of fatal electric injuries were

seasons. The wetness of the environment in rainy season

accidental in nature (64 cases: 100.00), and we did

is responsible for the increased incidences. In our study,

not find any case of suicidal or homicidal electrocution.

majority of the incidences (64.06) happened during the daytime between 7 AM and 7 PM as compared to night.

Table No. 06. Profile of Manner

Most of the victims were electrocuted at electric poles () while they were working with some electric source,

which slightly deviated from observations by the other

64 00 authors in their studies. 5,11 However, Kumar et al.[9] and Sheikhazadi et al. 12 observed higher incidences of fatal

In our study, 30 cases (46.87) were due to contact

electrocution at working places. Our study shows that

with electric pole, followed by 20 cases (31.25) were

in majority of the cases limbs were the most common

due to contact with live wire, followed by 9 cases

body part affected followed trunk, which is similar to

(14.06) due to domestic appliances and lastly 5

the observations of almost all other Indian authors. 5, 6,

cases(7.81) due to unknown sources.

Table No. 07. Profile of Source of electric current

Manner of death in this study was concluded with the help of alleged history regarding the incidence,

Unknown

Electric pole Domestic

information from police papers, and findings of autopsy

appliance

Live wire

source

report, and wefound that all deaths in our study were

30 09 20 05 accidental in manner and there was no case of death due to suicidal or homicidal electrocution. Almost similar

types of findings were observed by other authors in

1 st January2010 to 1 st January 2016; of them, 64 cases of death due to electrocution were analyzed. Results: