Pollachi: A two-year-old baby was washed away in flash floods near Pollachi while six others rescued from flood waters were admitted to hospitals in the early hours of Friday.
According to Pollachi forest ranger, Kasilingam, around 30 tribal families are residing at Sarkarpathi and Nagaroothu settlements in Pollachi forest range in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR).
Following flash floods in a forest river in the early hours of Friday, about 15 huts of the tribes were washed away leaving them stranded.
The incident took place around 1 am on Friday, while the tribal families were in deep sleep. However, many of them escaped after a great struggle.
A two-year-old girl, Sundari, of Kunjappan - Sundari couple, is suspected to be washed away in the flood, while the remaining six children escaped.
On information, forest department staff led by a ranger rushed to the spot and rescued 40 tribes who were accommodated in a camp at EB quarters.
Tribals identified as Pappathi (24), Kunjappan (36), Dhanalaxmi (15), Jaya (15), Alagappan (7) and Krishnan (7), were rescued from the floods and rushed to Pollachi government hospital and are under treatment.
Forest staff have launched a search for the baby feared to be washed in the floods.
