Trekkers deviated from permitted path, says CM

Leader of Opposition (LoP) MK Stalin moved a ‘Special Calling Attention’ motion over the fire tragedy in Kurangani hill, which killed 17 trekkers and sought measures taken by government during the debate. The LoP also alleged that despite receiving warning from Forest Survey of India (FSI) about the wildfire, the forest officials ignored the alert and failed to intensify the monitoring system. 

“Had the forest officials acted properly on the fire alert, casualties would have been avoided. While forest officials from various states have been linked with SMS notification system from FSI, only 280 forest officials from Tamil Nadu have such alert system,” he noted and added that the trekkers had gone to the hills without guides. Such one should be streamlined and a permit should be made mandatory for trekking in future, he noted. 

Similarly, KR Ramasamy, Congress Legislature Party leader, also joined the discussion and said, “If the trekkers did not obtain permission and went on climbing the hill, it is a clear indication the forest officials failed to keep vigil.” 

Responding to the ‘Special Calling Attention’ motion, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that the trekkers did not obtain permission from the forest officials and it led them to be trapped in the fire. 

“A team consisting of 12 trekkers from Erode and Tiruppur had reached Kurangani on March 10 and got 12 entry tickets from Community Based Eco Tourism’s members. The team deviated from its original route in the hills and reached Kolukkumalai Tea Estate, which was not allowed, where they stayed,” Palaniswami said. 

Further, this trekking team had received entry tickets for only one day and those tickets expired on the same day. However, they continued trekking on the next day to Kurangani through Kottakudi Kappukadu, he explained. 

Similarly, another 27-member team from Chennai Trekking Club had gone on trekking without permission on the same day. “Both the teams unexpectedly landed in trouble, as there was a raging forest fire on March 11. Field forest staff sensed the forest fire on March 11 at 2.30 pm. Later, fire tenders, choppers and ambulances were pressed into action to speed up rescue operations,” Palaniswami said and assured of action against erring officials and trekking clubs.