Theni: As many as three days before a wildfire claimed 11 lives in Theni, forest officials were reportedly aware of the raging blaze in the forest. Questions are now being raised as to how the forest officials allowed the group of trekkers to literally walk into the fiery death trap.
"We were not informed about the forest fire. The forest officials took Rs 200 from us as entry fee,” said one of the rescued trekkers Prabhu. Manorama News has accessed Prabhu's statement given to Theni SP. Prabhu was part of a trekking trip organized by Tour India Holidays.
As many as 11 people were killed in the devastating forest fire in the hills on March 11. The Tamil Nadu government has ordered a probe into the incident. Kurangini range officer Jai Singh suspended.
A 36-member team - 24 people from Chennai and 12 from Tiruppur and Erode districts - had embarked on the trekking expedition and reached Kurangani hills on March 10.
The team included 25 women and three children, according to Theni district collector Mariam Pallavi Baldev.Three of them had returned to the plains without going ahead further.
Baldev said the trekkers after staying at an estate in Kozhukumalai overnight, started their return journey to the plains Sunday morning when they heard of the sudden forest fire and got separated while attempting to find a safe way.
The trekkers were caught in the forest fire in Kurangani Kozhukumalai hill ranges near Theni, some 500 km away from Chennai.
The hills are in the Western Ghats near Bodinayakanur, about 40 km from Theni.
Weather vagaries
Kurangani hills, which has been attracting adventure tourists, including from overseas, is known for its fast-changing weather and strong winds.
The hill ranges, with a peak altitude of around 8,000 metres, have several trekking trails to destinations such as Meeshapulimala, Top Station and Rhodo Valley.
Nearby Kolukkumalai hills is stated to be the home to highest tea estate in the world located at an altitude close to 8,000 feet, according to Tamil Nadu 'favtourism' blog.
It roughly takes about four to five hours to complete the trek from Kurangani village, which is at the foothill, to reach the Top Station, whereas two-and-a-half hours are enough for the return trip, it says.
Bordering Kerala, Theni district, surrounded by the Western Ghats, is home to about 35,481 hectares of reserve and 31,094 hectares of unclassified forest. The district is also a favourite destination for film shoots.
According to government data, Theni is also a key route for the nature lovers to important tourist destinations such as Munnar and Thekkadi in neighbouring Kerala.
(With PTI inputs)
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