CUDALORE: Five deer were killed after being hit by a train near Kuppanatham, close to Virudhachalam, on the Virudhachalam–Cuddalore railway line on Tuesday.

Railway police personnel from the Virudhachalam section and officials of the forest department rushed to the spot after receiving information and conducted an inquiry.

Officials said the deer had strayed from nearby reserve forest areas in search of food and were attempting to cross the railway track when they were hit by a train travelling from Cuddalore towards Virudhachalam.

The forest department later shifted the carcasses of the five deer for post-mortem examination. The incident, in which all five deer were found dead at the same location on the railway track, caused concern among residents in the area.

Officials aren’t sure which train hit the deer, leading to their death.