UPDATE : Trapped hikers rescued

UPDATE (16:40) - News1st has received information that the trapped hikers have been rescued. This was confirmed to us by the DMC. Speaking to News1st, one of the trapped hikers revealed to us that they are residents of Piliyandala and had hiked to the area this morning. After being trapped by the inferno, the team of hikers had managed to make their way downhill to the location where the rescue teams were based in. == Colombo (News1st) : A group of 10 hikers have been trapped in the Wangedigala mountain range in Haldamulla due to a forest fire. Badulla district DMC Asst. Director E.M.L. Udaya Kumar noted that a number of teams have been deployed to find the trapped hikers adding that they are still in contact with them over the phone. The search operation is being conducted by the Army, DMC, and divisional secretariat officers. Details to follow ...