About 40 college students, who went for trekking in the Kurangini forests in Theni district of Tamil Nadu, were trapped in a forest fire on Sunday evening. The incident occurred in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu-Kerala border.
According to reports reaching Chennai, 20 students trapped in the fire have been rescued by a team of forest officials who reached the spot on hearing the news. Seven students who suffered burn injuries have been admitted to the Government Hospital at Bodinayakanur in Theni, said the Station House officer, Inter State Intelligence Wing, Theni.
Unconfirmed reports reaching Chennai said six students belonging to a team of trekkers are feared dead when they were caught up in the forest fire.
According to reports reaching Chennai at the time of going to Press, 20 students trapped in the fire have been rescued by a team of forest officials who reached the spot on hearing the news.
But the duty officer, Superintendent of Police Office, Theni said he has not received any reports about loss of lives or major causalities. He said rescue operations were in full swing.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy told reporters at Salem late on Sunday night that only 10 students still trapped in the forest fire are to be rescued.
The students were from colleges in the districts of Coimbatore and Erode in Tamil Nadu and were on a trekking expedition. “They had entered the forests from Munnar side of Kerala and were trekking down to Theni through the forests. Normally such expeditions are not allowed at this time of the year because of recurring forest fires,” said H Basavaraju, Principal Conservator of Forests, Tamil Nadu.
The team of forest officials which rushed to the spot saved a batch of 17 students, including a girl student. Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam has rushed to the spot from Chennai.
Chief Minister Edappady Palaniswamy had contacted Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to seek the help of the Army and Air Force in the rescue operations.
Sitharaman remained in touch with the District Collector and directed the Indian Airforce to co-ordinate in the rescue operations. In a series of tweets, she said two helicopters of the Indian Air Force from its Sulur base near Coimbatore were being sent to assist in the rescue operations
"Responding to the request from the Hon @CMOTamilNadu on the forest-fire related issue -20 students are caught in Kurangani, Theni district. Instructed @IAF_MCC to help in rescue and evacuation. The Southern Command is in touch with the Collector of Theni," she said in a tweet.