Theni: Toll from forest fire rises to 14, case filed against trekking club owner
Between 35 to 40 trekkers were caught in the fire at Kurangani forest on Sunday.
The toll from the forest fire in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district rose to 14 on Thursday. The police on Thursday registered an FIR against the owner of the Chennai Trekking Club, which is believed to have organised the trek in the Kurangani Hills on Sunday. Peter Van Geit has been charged under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code, the police told PTI.
Between 35 to 40 trekkers were trapped in the blaze on Sunday. Soon after, the Tamil Nadu government had said the trekkers did not have the required permissions to be in the hills that evening.
The police on Monday arrested a man believed to be a tour guide who led the trekking group. It is unclear how many separate groups of trekkers were trapped in the blaze.
The Tamil Nadu government had announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the victims’ families, and Rs one lakh to the seriously injured.