Mon Dec 30 18:47:41 UTC 2024: ## Idukki Mourns Elephant Attack Victim; Government Promises Action
**Idukki, Kerala, December 31, 2024** – A 23-year-old man, Amar Ilahi, was tragically killed by a wild elephant in Idukki district on Sunday, prompting widespread grief and calls for stronger action to prevent further attacks. Ilahi was attacked while retrieving his cow from a teak plantation near Mullaringadu. His friend sustained injuries but escaped.
This marks the seventh elephant-related fatality in Idukki in the past year. Following Ilahi’s funeral on Monday, a hartal was observed in Vannappuram panchayat, and a protest march was held at the Chullilkkandam forest section office.
Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine visited Ilahi’s family and announced immediate measures to curb escalating elephant attacks. Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran pledged ₹10 lakh in compensation to the bereaved family, supplementing the ₹4 lakh already provided by the Idukki Collector.
Forest officials reported that the attack occurred within a reserve forest area and that they have deployed a Rapid Response Team to monitor elephant movements. The State Minority Commission has also launched a suo motu case and demanded a detailed report within 15 days. The incident highlights the ongoing conflict between humans and elephants in the region.
First Piper 