The first installment of compensation, amounting to ₹5 lakh each, was handed over to the heirs of Velli and Leela, who were killed in a wild elephant attack at Karikanmukku in Block 13 of the Aralam rehabilitation area. The total compensation disbursed was ₹10 lakh.The amount was jointly handed over by MLA Sunny Joseph, Aralam grama panchayat president K.P Rajesh, Irrity block panchayat president K. Velayudhan, ward member Mini Dinesan and block panchayat member Shobha.The beneficiaries Lakhsmi, Sreedharan, Venu and Ravi received the compensation in equal share in their personal accounts.Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary warden G. Pradeep, Aralam Assistant Warden Ramya Raghavan, Kottiyoor Range Officer Sudheer Neroth, and other forest officials, public representatives and revenue officials attended the ceremony.Amid rising incidents of human-wildlife conflict, the government has declared it a State disaster and set up two Divisional Forest Emergency Operation Centres in Kannur district to enhance conflict mitigation efforts.The contact number for the centres are Kannur DFEOC: 9188407547, Aralam DFEOC 9188407546. Additional, the State Forest Emergency Operation Centre and Forest Control room have started operations at the Forest department headquarters. The numbers at Control Room Thiruvananthapuram (Toll-Free) is 1800425473 and State Forest Emergency Operation Centre is 9188407510, 9188407511.Published - February 25, 2025 06:58 pm IST