Medico-Legal Update

This study has been carried out to find out the incidence of deaths due to electrocution in Nagpur with special emphasis on finding out the circumstances along with pattern of injuries sustained by the victims. Medico legal autopsy cases with history of electrocution over period of 2012 to 2013 were included in this study.

A total of 74 deaths due to electrocution were studied in which male's outnumbered females. Approximately half of cases was observed in the age group of 21–30 years (36 cases i.e 48.64%) which included 05 females. More than 2/3^rd i.e 56 victims (71.6%) were electrocuted by low tension domestic supply, out of which 38 were electrocuted at home. 18 victims (24.4%) were electrocuted by high tension current. Only 03 victims survived for period of 24–48 hours whereas 71(95.9%) victims died on the spot. In half i.e 52.4% of the cases only entry wound was present, followed by presence of both entry and exit wound in 36.4% cases. Information gathered from police documents and history by relatives revealed that almost all of the electrocution deaths were because of accidental electrocution, only two suicidal cases were observed. Most common histo-pathological finding was focal separation of dermis and epidermis, epidermal nuclear elongation and palisading. The risk of getting electrocuted in domestic surroundings from the haphazardly installed electric wires without proper maintenance is indeed a matter of concern. Adoption of proper insulation safety measures are important factors required for prevention of fatal electrocution.