Over 30 Students Caught In Major Forest Fire In Tamil Nadu's Theni

Chennai:  Over 30 students were caught in a massive forest fire in Theni district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday evening. The students were caught in the fire while they were trekking to Kurangani hills.

A senior police officer has told NDTV, that 30 students from Chennai had gone for trekking but "they did not take permission from police or the forest department." Local tribal people and forest personnel have reached the students, say police.
 

On a request from Chief Minister Palanisami, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman instructed the Indian Air Force to help in rescue and evacuation of students.

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 "Southern Command is in touch with the Collector of Theni," tweeted the Defence Minister and 10-15 students have been rescued. They are already on their way down, Ms Sitharaman said.

A MI-17 chopper of the IAF is already on its way from Sulur to assess the situation as per sources in the defence ministry. An aerial survey will first be done to gauge the extent of damage.