Chennai, Mar 11 (IBNS): Few students have been rescued as more than 20 of them were trapped in a forest fire in Theni district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday.

The rescued students have been taken to Theni hospital, media reports said.

The students were trapped in the forest fire when they were trekking in Kurangani hills.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said rescue operation is going on and she directed the Indian Air Force to join the evacuation process.

"@IAF_MCC helicopter from Sulur Air Base has done a recce of the area affected by the forest fire in Kurangani. Commandos from the base are in Theni District & are working w/ local authorities to undertake an overnight rescue operation & provide First Aid... (1/2) @nsitharaman," read a tweet issued from the official Twitter handle of the Defence Minister.

"...to the students injured. There will be full efforts to evacuate all trapped by tonight. Remaining students, if any, shall be evacuated via @IAF_MCC helicopter by first light in the morning. Any students seriously injured will be directly flown to Madurai (2/2) @nsitharaman," read another tweet.

Earlier giving details of the incident, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: "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."

Sitharaman said the air force was directed to start the evacuation process after she received a request from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

According to reports, they had not taken permission for the trekking from the police or the forest department, media reports said.

A senior police officer has told NDTV, that 27 students from Chennai had gone for trekking but "they did not take permission from police or the forest department."

Image: File Picture