The tiger was hit by the Palakkad–Thoothukudi Palaruvi Express around 2.30am on Wednesday between Bhagavathipuram and Aryankavu railway stations in Tenkasi ddistrict, near Tamil Nadu-Kerala border
A Wildlife Institute of India assessment in 2025 identified road and rail traffic near Aryankavu as barriers to tiger movement. The incident occurred in the wider Sengottai–Aryankavu landscape, where transport routes intersect wildlife habitat. In June, the Palaruvi Express was stopped for an elephant crossing the tracks on another section of the route.
However, officials have yet to establish why it ventured towards the grove or whether it was returning to the forest. Railway personnel alerted the authorities after the collision. Tenkasi district forest officer Rajmohan and other forest and railway officials inspected the site. Veterinarians conducted a postmortem, after which the carcass was cremated in a forest area.
The postmortem also indicated that the tiger had eaten prey before the accident.