The tusker, aged about 30, was grazing in a paddy field at Alusingh under Hindol forest range when it came in contact with a live wire, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Dhenkanal, Pradipta Kumar Sahu said.
The live wire was allegedly illegally drawn from a low transmission line in the paddy field for domestic use, he said.
A post-mortem was conducted by a vet and the dead elephant was buried on the spot, the DFO said, adding a complaint would be filed against the local officials of Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU) for alleged neglect causing the death of the jumbo.