An elephant trampled two persons to death at Jaritapur under Tangi block of Khordha district late on Sunday night.
The deceased were identified as Krushna Chandra Pradhan and Laxmidhar Behera.
According to reports, the two had gone to their farmlands to keep a watch on the crops, during which they saw the elephant destroying the crops.
As the two farmers tried to ward off the jumbo, it attacked them and crushed them to death.
Tension ran high in the locality after the tragic incident as irate locals demanded compensation for the families of the deceased from the Forest Department.
On being informed, concerned forest officials reached the place and started an investigation into the incident.
