Peter Van Geit, the founder of Chennai Trekking Club (CTC), was declared as an absconding accused in the Theni forest fire case in which 14 people have died so far. All the airports have been alerted in this regard, said the Theni police.
Madurai:
On Sunday, 36 people were trapped in the forest fire at Kozhukumalai in Kurangani forest range near Bodinayakanur in Theni district. In the incident, nine trekkers died on the spot and several others were injured.
According to Theni police, cases have been filed under the sections 336, 337 and 338 of the IPC, along with 304(ii) and 21(D) of Tamil Nadu Forest Act. A team from Theni police had come to Chennai on Wednesday in search of Peter Van Geit, before declaring him as an absconding accused in the case.
Meanwhile, the toll climbed to 14 on Thursday following the death of two more persons who were admitted to the Madurai GRH. The deceased were identified as Anu Vidya (25) of Chennai and Kannan (26) of Erode. Anu Vidya had suffered 90 per cent burns, while Kannan suffered 70 per cent burns after being trapped in the forest fire.