Kurangani hill forest fire report in two months

Erode: Survivors of the Kurangani hills forest fire that killed 20 persons in Theni district last month presented detailed accounts of their ordeal to Atulya Mishra, principal secretary, revenue and disaster management, who is probing the human tragedy. The kin of the survivors as well as the deceased also met the officer and presented their versions.

Speaking to reporters after holding his inquiry at the collectorate here, Mishra said he would submit to the government the report on his probe findings in two months. “We have received some clues about the fire and how it broke out and we would give all that in detail in the report to the government”, he said.

He said he would also question the organiser of the trekking expedition, called Prabhu, who is now in judicial custody. The panel would also give recommendations to the government on how to prevent forest fires and also on the safety measures to be followed on trekking expeditions, he said.

The Mishra panel has already enquired more than 70 persons, including the families of the trekkers, besides several forest officials. Over 20 persons of a 36-member team from Chennai and Tirupur and Erode districts, on a trekking expedition were killed in the forest fire in Kurangani hills in Theni district, some 70 km from Madurai, on March 10.