Nine Trekkers dead at the Theni Forest Fire

   The Forest fire broke out in the Kurangini hills located at Theni district, when a group of 25 women and three children was returning from a trek organised by the Chennai Trekking Club for the Women's Day. While they were returning back on Sunday, the group was trapped by the forest fire.

   Nine of the 39 trekkers trapped in a massive forest fire have died of burns. The deceased have been identified as Subha, Vipin, Dhivya, Vivek, Hemalatha, Punitha, Akila, Arun and Tamilselvan. Thirty people, mostly students, have been rescued and taken to hospital. Indian Air Force helicopters are searching for more people in the region if there are any.

   The trekkers were mainly from Chennai which included 27 people out of the 39 and 12 more from Erode and Tirupur. The initial rescue effort was started by local forest officials. and the local people of that area.