Tiger killed after being hit by train in Tenkasi district
A male tiger aged between four and five years was run over by the Palaruvi Express near the Kerala border on Wednesday.
A male tiger aged between four and five years was killed after being hit by a train near Puliyarai in Tenkasi district on Wednesday, according to reports by Rediff and The New Indian Express.
The incident occurred around 2.30 am on the railway line connecting Sengottai in Tamil Nadu with Kerala. The Palakkad-Thoothukudi Palaruvi Express hit the animal on the tracks between Bhagavathipuram and Poolankudiyiruppu.
District Forest Officer (DFO) R Rajmohan said the tiger had suffered head injuries in the collision. He stated that a team will visit the neighbouring Courtallam forest range to examine CCTV footage to check if the animal arrived from there.
The forest department has registered a forest offence case and launched an inquiry. An autopsy was conducted in the presence of representatives from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the chief wildlife warden, according to the DFO.
The tiger's carcass was cremated at the spot following the examination by veterinarians Dr Manoharan, Dr Santhakumar, and Dr Sivakumar. DFO Rajmohan said he has written to the Railways seeking to reduce the night speed limit from 60 to 30 kmph.
The DFO added that he has instructed forest personnel to regularly patrol the stretch at night.