They have been sent to the Kilpauk Medical College at Chennai for rehabilitation, officials said.
On a PIL in 2009, the Madras High Court had directed the Nagapattinam district administration to rescue mentally challenged persons wandering on streets and send them for rehabilitation.Since then, the administration and NGOs have been carrying out rescue drives at periodic intervals.
Lorries that come from various southern states to the salt pans in Vedaranyam bring mentally challenged persons too,who are then let free in the area.