The human-elephant conflict has intensified in Sathyamangalam region as the number of crop raids has witnessed a sharp rise. In the last few weeks, the region saw more than 30 elephant raids that resulted in heavy economic loss to the farmers.

A farmer in a remote village in Thalamalai had even attempted suicide on Monday after elephants damaged his ragi field. It was said the farmer, Puttunathan (55) of Thottapuram village in Thalamalai hills resorted to the act after elephants raided the crops in his field frequently.