Salem Fire and Emergency Safety Guide

At about 6 pm on 30 April 2024, a private bus coming down the Yercaud ghat road towards Salem lost control near the 13th hairpin bend and fell into an 80-foot gorge. At least five people died and about 20 were hurt, and police said a brake failure was suspected.

On 1 June 2023, explosives went off at a firecracker unit in S Gollapatti village in Salem district. Three people died and six were critically burnt, and it was the third such blast in Tamil Nadu since 1 March that year; the unit reportedly held a licence and clearances, and the cause was under investigation.

On 6 September 2022, two elderly women died in the Yercaud Four Road area when rainwater entered their houses while they were asleep. Rain here normally drains towards the Thirumanimuthar river, but that year several houses were flooded and fire and rescue staff recovered the bodies.

When heavy inflow reaches the Stanley reservoir at Mettur in the north of the district, the state opens its sluice gates and warns people living along the Cauvery. On 6 September 2022, a release of 1.20 lakh cusecs was decided and residents of low-lying riverbank areas were asked to move to safer places.