The 65-year old man was killed on the spot by the male elephant when he came out of his tiled house at Oosaimalai village on Monday night, they said.
The elephant, which had come to a jungle stream in the area in search of water, also damaged the tiles of a neighbouring house, injuring a 62-year-old woman.
On hearing cries for help, villagers rushed there and scared away the elephant, police said.