Kolukkumalai fire: 11 dead

Atleast 12 people are reported to be killed in the forest fire at Kurangini hills at Kolukkumalai in Theni district of Tamil Nadu. 25 have been rescued so far.

Earlier it was reported that 27 people including 25 women are feared to have been trapped in the severe forest fire atop the Kolukkumalai Hills in Tamil Nadu. But, at present as per the reports many are feared to have been trapped in the fire.

Of the nine dead, four are women, four men and a child. Six of them are from Chennai and three from Erode, confirmed the Theni Collector. The rest of the bodies are yet to be identified. Those who are injured are being treated for injuries at the government hospital in Bodinayakanur. Garud Commando Force and the Indian Air Force have joined the rescue operations.

“Two groups have gone for trek inKolukumalai. One group of 13 people from Tirupur & Erode and another group of 24 from Chennai, organised by Chennai Trekking Club.

Eight men 26 ladies 3 children were included in the trek. The group reached Kolukkumalai Saturday morning and camped in an estate. The team was caught in the forest fire while returning from the trek, informed the Theni District Collector.

“The group scattered seeing the fire and are trapped in the fire. All government machinery are pressed into action and rescue operations have been expedited,” informed Pallavi Baldev, District Collector, Theni.

“Fifteen people are believed to have burn injuries,”she said.