Clinton Visits Earthquake-Ravaged Indian KutchFormer US President Bill Clinton visited the earthquake-ravaged Kutch in India March 4 and he pledged to keep raising funds for them.Clinton, who has brought with him the keys of a 50-million US dollar (over Rs. 200 crore) fund put together by America-India Foundation to help the quake victims, held the hands of two surviving children while laying flowers at the spot where nearly 300 schoolchildren participating in a republic day procession were buried alive under the debris of collapsed houses. About 3,000 people watched Clinton as he bowed his head for a moment in memory of those who perished. "We will raise funds to help the people of Anjar to face their loss. We have a plan to see if money can be given to the people to rebuild their lives," he said in a brief speech. Clinton also went around some of the rubble-strewnstreets seeing the devastation caused by January 26 killer earthquake. Earlier, on his arrival at Bhuj airport, Clinton said "Today I am here to look, listen, learn and ask questions and see what we can do to help." "People of this place have lived through an unimaginable tragedy. The most important thing now is to think how it should be re-built and people return to normal life." He also visited Ratnal, a small village totally devastated in the quake. Clinton first visited a pre-fabricated hut built by the American India Foundation. Women wearing traditional Kutch attire received him by applying vermilion on his forehead and showering flowers. Gujarat industry minister Suresh Mehta, Anjar MLA Vasanahir and village Sarpanch Bachu Bhai Rava briefed him about the prevailing situation. |
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