Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has assured that efforts to trace some persons including girl students trapped in Kurangani forest-fire near Theni would commence this morning.

More than 40 college students and tourists had been on a trekking expedition at the Kurangani forest near Theni when it suddenly caught fire. Local police and Fire officials immediately indulged in fire-fighting exercises. On getting to know about the ferocity of the raging forest fire, Union Defence Minister instructed the Air Force to dispatch its helicopters in rescuing those stranded inside the forest.

Choppers from the Sulur air-base rushed to the spot but the rescue work had been hampered as night had already enveloped the dense forest. 16 persons have so far been rescued and admitted to the Kurangani Govt. Hospital while 39 persons, including 24 from Chennai, are believed to have been trapped inside the forest.

“Choppers rushed to the spot immediately but hit bottlenecks in rescue operation due to lack of adequate light. Soon after sun set on Monday, the rescue team would get back to work,” the Minister assured. Plantation workers from nearby tea estates and the locals have also joined the search and rescue operations.  Meanwhile, Theni’s Collector Pallavi dispatched a full-fledged medical team of nurses/doctors to the spot.