  We present a multiwavelength investigation of star formation activity towards
the southern H II regions associated with IRAS 17160-3707, located at a
distance of 6.2 kpc with a bolometric luminosity of 830000 Lsun.The ionised gas
distribution and dust clumps in the parental molecular cloud are examined in
detail using measurements at infrared, submillimeter and radio wavelengths.The
radio continuum images at 1280 and 610 MHz obtained using Giant Metrewave Radio
Telescope reveal the presence of multiple compact sources as well as nebulous
emission.At submillimeter wavelengths, we identify seven dust clumps and
estimate their physical properties like temperature: 24 - 30 K, mass: 300 -
4800 Msun and luminosity: 900 - 31700 Lsun using modified blackbody fits to the
spectral energy distributions between 70 and 870 um.We find 24 young stellar
objects in the mid-infrared, with few of them coincident with the compact radio
sources.The spectral energy distributions of young stellar objects have been
fitted by the Robitaille models and the results indicate that those having
radio compact sources as counterparts host massive objects in early
evolutionary stages with best fit age <= 0.2 Myr.We compare the relative
evolutionary stages of clumps using various signposts such as masers, ionised
gas, presence of young stellar objects and infrared nebulosity and find six
massive star forming clumps and one quiescent clump.Of the former, five are in
a relatively advanced stage and one in an earlier stage.
