Forest fire breaks out in Chalakudy range; extinguished

A forest fire broke out in over 20 hectares in the Chalakudy forest division in the district but it was put out early today, officials said.
The fire broke out yesterday causing anxious moments to authorities as it came close on the heels of the Theni forest blaze in neighbouring Tamil Nadu that claimed 11 lives.
Forest officals took immediate steps and put out the fire, the forest fire monitoring cell said here.
The fire, spotted in Pillapara and Athirapally areas, was doused by a team comprising over 60 officials, they said.
In a related development, as a precautionary measure, authorities have temporarily banned trekking in the forests of the state in the wake of the fire in the Kurangani hills of Theni on March 10.