Deaths due to electrocution

Electrical fatalities are mainly accidental and rarely either suicidal or homicidal. In the present study, an attempt is made to study the electrocution fatalities that were autopsied at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India over a span of 18 years (1992-2009). Among the total of 3340 autopsies conducted, 21 cases (0.63%) were due to electrocution. All the victims were males with predominance in the third decade of life. All the cases were accidental in nature. Majority of the cases occurred in the day time and during the rainy season. Electric pole was the source of exposure to electric current in nearly half of the cases. One third of the cases showed electric marks on the body. More than half of the cases sustained high voltage electrical injuries. The extremities were more commonly involved.