Jhapa Fishing Tragedy Highlights Ongoing Dangers of Illegal Electric Fishing
A 44-year-old man died in Jhapa after being electrocuted while fishing in Hile Khola, underscoring the deadly risks of using electricity to catch fish.
A fishing trip turned fatal in Jhapa’s Arjundhara Municipality-11 on Thursday afternoon, when a 44-year-old local man died after being electrocuted in the Hile Khola near Kali Temple. Police identified the victim as Dambar Hasda, also known as Sagar, and local authorities have opened an investigation into the accidental death.
According to District Police Office inspector Suman Baniya, the incident happened while Hasda was fishing in the area. Emergency responders and investigators later confirmed the death was caused by electrocution, not a natural medical event or drowning.
A recurring and deadly pattern
The Jhapa case fits a troubling pattern seen across Nepal, where deaths have repeatedly been linked to fishing with electricity or contact with live wires in rivers and canals. Police reports from previous incidents in Jhapa have described multiple deaths caused by electric traps or makeshift electrification used to catch fish.
In one earlier case, police said two men died in separate Jhapa incidents within days while allegedly fishing with electric current. Similar cases have also been reported in other districts, including Mugu and other parts of eastern Nepal, showing that the risk is not isolated to one location.
Why this matters
Using electricity to catch fish is dangerous because water conducts current extremely well. A single exposed wire, damaged cable, or improperly handled power source can cause immediate shock, unconsciousness, cardiac arrest, or death.
Beyond the personal danger, such methods can also harm local aquatic ecosystems by killing fish indiscriminately and damaging breeding grounds. That makes the practice both a public safety issue and an environmental one.
What investigators are looking into
Police have not yet released further technical details about the source of the الكهرباء or whether equipment was present at the scene. The investigation is expected to focus on how the electrocution occurred and whether unsafe or illegal fishing methods were involved.
For communities living near rivers and streams, the case is a stark reminder that electric fishing is not only illegal in many contexts, but also fatal in seconds. What begins as a routine outing can end in tragedy when live current enters the water.