THENI FOREST FIRE: 2 TOUR GUIDES DETAINED

The death toll in the forest fire in Theni district climbed to 11 with one more trekker succumbing to burns on Tuesday. Of 17 trekkers undergoing treatment at various hospitals, eight continue to be critical and are on ventilator support.

According to sources, these eight survivors continue to be in ICU and are being attended to by doctors and plastic surgeons. Three of them have incurred less than 40 percent burns and are being monitored round the clock.

The police arrested Ranjith, who was the tour guide for trekkers from Erode. Another guide, Rajesh, has also been detained. “We have launched a manhunt for missing Peter Van Geit, the Belgian who founded the Chennai Trekking Club,” police said.