At least nine people including four women and a child died after being trapped in a massive fire that broke out in the jungles of Kurangani hill in Theri district of southern Tamil Nadu.

Twenty seven out of the total 36 trekkers trapped in the fire have being rescued by the joing efforts of Indian Army and Garud Commando Force.

A massive forest fire broke out suddenly in the hills of Kurangani in Tamil Nadu on Sunday trapping 36 trekkers, most of them women.

Rescue operations were being taken up by the fire and forest department officials with the Indian Airforce sending two helicopters on the directives of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after she was approached for help by Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

The helicopters undertook a survey of the area and returned to neighbouring Madurai. They were expected to join the rescue operation later, Theni District Collector Mariam Pallavi Baldev said tonight.

State Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, in a tweet, said 15 of those trapped in the Kurangani hills had been rescued and were being treated for injuries at the government hospital in Bodinayakanur in the district in southern Tamil Nadu.

Baldev said: “I have got calls from people that some are in unconscious state due to fire. So far there is no confirmation about casualties (death),” she said to a question from reporters on whether there was any death.