It was a harrowing wait for those caught in the wildfire at Kurangani in Tamil Nadu forest till rescuers’ arrival. The area, on the border with Kolukkumalai, one of the highest peaks on the Western Ghats, near Munnar, is not easily accessible.
When the news of the trekkers caught in the wildfire reached the district on Sunday evening, a team of 25 police officers from various police stations led by Munnar Dy.SP C.J. Johnson joined the rescue team. Mr. Johnson told The Hindu on Monday that they had to travel to Theni to reach the elevated spot on the western side of the Western Ghats where the trekkers were trapped. They braved adverse climate and raging fire to reach there.
6 km away from road
“Because of the difficulties in reaching the spot, many seriously injured had to wait till the rescue team’s arrival. Carrying them to Theni was also difficult as the spot was nearly six kilometres away from a motorable road. It took nearly an hour to bring the victims to the motorable road,” he said.
The difficulty in moving fast on the narrow and dangerous trekking route led to increase in the death toll, he said.
Most of the victims were those who had sought shelter in a gorge to escape the fire. However, the fire ravaged around the gorge and tree branches and other burning objects fell over them.
There was no trained guide accompanying the 39-member team of trekkers from a trekking club based in Chennai.
There was no official permission to trek in one of the most-difficult terrains in the region.
Apart from the team, a few other people were also trekking in the region.
Usually trekking inside the forest is allowed only with the consent of the Forest Department and trained forest watchers accompany the team.
But in treks conducted by private parties, such coordination is often missing. The trekkers often move on the wrong path, landing in difficulties. Moreover, they have to face adverse topographical and climatic conditions. Lack of road and mobile phone connectivity adds to the issues.
“Once the trekking team veers off the path, there is no way of communicating with the outside world as there is no mobile connectivity there,” said a Forest Department official. He said many trekkers reaching Kolukkumalai take up the treks without adhering to guidelines or without having any knowledge of the difficulties they could land in.
Many unauthorised private parties are organising treks in Kolukkumalai, which is approachable through the Kerala and Tamil Nadu side.
“The Forest Department conducts treks adhering to guidelines and a forest watcher with wireless sets for communication needs accompanies the team. Treks will be conducted on areas safe from wild animal attacks and avoiding steep and dangerous terrains,” said the official. However, in some areas private parties conducted treks and the only guideline they followed were the ones set by themselves or by their predecessors. They flouted safety aspects especially while trekking on difficult terrains, he added.
One from Kottayam
Among those caught in the fire is 19-year-old Mina George from Pala in Kottayam. She has nearly 30% burns.
