Nine trekkers killed in forest fire in Tamil Nadu's Theni, 27 rescued

Nine people, including four women and a child, were killed in a forest fire in Tamil Nadu on Sunday. At least 36 people were trapped when a fire suddenly broke out at Kurangani Hills in Theni district in Tamil Nadu.

Twenty seven people have already been rescued, 8 of whom are seriously injured. Rescue operations were being taken up by the fire and forest department officials with the Indian Airforce sending two helicopters on the directives of defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman after she was approached for help by chief minister K Palaniswami.