In a tragic incident, two persons, including a woman, were killed in an elephant attack at Rayanrusinghpur village under the Tumisingha police limits in Dhenkanal district early on Friday morning.
The deceased were identified as Surendra Nayak (58), priest of the village temple, and Patali Behera (35).
According to reports, both had gone to a field near the village temple in the morning. In the meantime, an elephant, which had reportedly arrived at the local primary school premises since previous night, trampled Surendra to death on the spot.
The pachyderm later threw Patali away with its trunk leading to her death on the spot as well.
Tension gripped the area following the incident as irate locals blocked the Pandua-Marthapur road burning tyres.
On being informed, forest officials and police reached the spot and started investigation.