Tamil Nadu forest fire doused: Defence Minister

An Indian Air Force helicopter doused the fire at Kurangani hills area in Tamil Nadu that left nine persons dead, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday.

At least 16 Garud Commando Force personnel have been deployed to carry out search and rescue operation at the site, Sitharaman said, adding they were working on moving the dead bodies to a place from where they can be collected.

According to the minister, two helicopters have been engaged in the task of moving the bodies.

At least 27 people have so far been rescued from the site, out of which ten suffered minor injuries and eight were seriously hurt.

Police said the students from Coimbatore and Erode were taking training in Kurangai-Kozhuku Hill area when the fire suddenly broke out around noon.

The operation is underway and further details are awaited.