The forest department of Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri area bordering Karnataka is on a high alert after wild elephants trampled a man to death, the fifth such casualty this month.
Forest officials said a red alert has been issued in the villages of Lakshmipuram, Narapannati, Ratnagiri, and Satnakkal as 10 elephants are said to be present in the area.
Residents have been alerted not to go out at night.
Denkanaikottai forest range officials said that the elephants are also damaging the crops and villagers have complained that 100 kg of ragi crops have been destroyed by wild elephants.
The Krishnagiri district collector has already conducted a meeting with forest, revenue, and police officials to find a solution as the villagers who are mainly into cattle rearing will have to go to the forest areas.
Chinappa, the fifth victim, had gone into the forest area with his cattle on Tuesday morning.
