Ten trekkers were killed after being trapped in a forest fire in Theni district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday.
"Ten persons are dead, while 17 of the rescued have been hospitalised and 10 did not require hospitalisation," Commissioner of Revenue Administration K Sathyagopal told reporters.
Among those ten killed in the fire include five women, four men, and a child. Out of ten dead, seven are from Chennai and three from Erode district. A 36-member team 24 people from Chennai and 12 from Tiruppur and Erode districts went on a trekking expedition reached Kurangani hills on March 10. The team included 25 women and three children, according to Theni District Collector Mariam Pallavi Baldev. Among trekkers, 27 people were from Chennai and a batch of 12 from Erode and Tirupur. A medical team had been sent to the spot and employees of a nearby private tea estate were also assisting in the rescue operations.
Police initially said the students from Coimbatore and Erode were taking training in Kurangai-Kozhuku Hill area when the fire suddenly broke out around noon.
Then IAF was pressed into action by the Defence Minister after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami sought help on the matter. A defence press note said 16 Garud commandos were in action from the morning. But for want of fuel helicopter did not reached the spot that evoked criticism from social media bloggers. Now locals confirm the fire has been subdued . CM of tamilnadu Edapadai Palanismay visited the hospital has announced relief measure of 4 lakhs for the dead and 50000 Rs for the wounded. It is important to note the proposed 1500 crores neutrino project that local villagers oppose on the ground of Environment issues is just 31 kms and can be done by one hour walk through mountain.
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