The Tamil Nadu government will take necessary action against the organisers of the Kurangani trekking expedition in which 17 trekkers were killed in a forest fire.
The organisers had not taken permission for trekking in reserve forest, said Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami in the Assembly.
Palaniswami said that a case was registered on Ranjith Kumar from Bodi circle under Tamil Nadu Forest Act 1882 Section 22. The State police is taking necessary action on the Chennai Trekking Club and Tour de India from Erode, he said. The Chief Minister said the initial reports revealed that the trekkers had strayed from the permitted path.
The families of 17 people who died will receive ₹4 lakh, ₹1 lakh for severely injured and ₹50,000 for minor injuries from the State public relief fund.
Suitable action
According to an official release of his address in the Assembly, suitable action would be taken against the organisers from Chennai Trekking Club and Tour de India from Erode for not taking necessary permissions from the forest department.
Atulya Misra, Principal Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, will oversee the investigation and submit an elaborate report on measures to ensure safety of trekkers in forests in two months.
The report will include details about shortcomings of the forest department and its officials in handling emergency situations.