The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be pressed to rescue students caught in a forest fire in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Sunday.
She said the Southern Command was in touch with the Theni District Collector. Sitharaman also announced this through a tweet.
Responding to the request from the Hon @CMOTamilNadu on the forest -fire related issue -20 students are caught in Kurangani, Theni district. Instructed @IAF_MCC to help in rescue and evacuation. The Southern Command is in touch with the Collector of Theni. @ThanthiTV @pibchennai
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) March 11, 2018
Sitharaman said she was responding to a request from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami.
Several students trekking in Kurankani hills in Theni were caught in the forest fire. Fire tenders have also reached the spot to rescue the students.
(With inputs from IANS)