10 trekkers caught in Theni fire battling for life

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, along with Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, visited the burns ward in the Madurai GRH on Monday evening and spoke to the doctors about the condition of the patients. Following this, he met the media and said the trekkers had not obtained appropriate permission from the Forest Department and if proper permission had been obtained, security measures would have been provided. Panneerselvam too said trekking was not allowed in the route and permission is given to trek only to Topslip. Of the 15 admitted in Madurai hospitals, Nisha, who sustained 100 per cent burns, was declared dead. Divya of Erode also suffered 100 per cent burns and is fighting for her life along with Anu Vidya of Tambaram, and Jeyashree of Madipakkam, who had sustained 90 per cent burns. 

Following the death of several trekkers in Theni district, the Forest Department on Monday banned trekking in the state until further orders. Reliable sources in the department said circulars have been sent to all the District Forest Officers, instructing them to stop giving permission for trekking. A District Forest Officer in the western region told DT Next, “We received a circular around 4 pm on Monday and immediately closed trekking sites.” Meanwhile, the Kerala and Telangana governments also banned trekking in forest areas in the states.