Train fatally hits tiger on Kollam-Senkottai route

Officials are examining the carcass of a tiger that was hit by a train on the Kollam-Senkottai railway line early Wednesday morning.

A train on the Kollam-Senkottai railway route hit and killed a tiger in the wee hours of Wednesday. The collision took place near kilometer 676, on the stretch between Senkottai and Bhagavathipuram under the Senkottai railway section. Preliminary findings from officials indicate that the dead animal was a male tiger aged around six to seven years.

The accident occurred around 2 am when the Palaruvi Express from Thoothukudi to Palakkad was hit by a tiger on the tracks. After the incident, the railway staff alerted the forest authorities, who sent a team to the spot. Forest officials subsequently took custody of the corpse for autopsy and further legal proceedings.

The incident took place in an area under the jurisdiction of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Notably, the place where the tiger was killed is located near human settlements and vast mango orchards where farmers reside. Local residents have pointed out that these surrounding orchards lack solar fencing, making the area prone to wild animal movement.

The Punalur-Senkottai railway line traverses the ecologically fragile Western Ghats, making nighttime wildlife encounters on the tracks a frequent occurrence. The incident raised concerns among residents of nearby Aryankavu, a region that has already seen a recent spike in wild animal encounters and attacks.

Six months ago, the Palaruvi Express was forced to halt near Ottakkal in Thenmala after a wild elephant wandered onto the railway tracks and blocked the route.

Published – 04 Nov 2026 21:36 IST