Film stars do their bit for school fire victims

Chennai, July 20 (IANS): Popular actor and Rajya Sabha MP Sarath Kumar will lead a team of film stars from Tamil Nadu to the town of Kumbakonam

Wednesday to meet the families of the 90 schoolchildren who died in a devastating school fire.

The visit by Tamil Nadu stars comes along with funds from the film industry for the town and the children's families.

The Tamil Nadu film industry here has collected Rs. 5.3 million ($117,000) to contribute towards converting thatched roofs in schools to concrete ones.

Actor Kamal Haasan, now in South Korea, has in a statement issued here pledged Rs. 1.2 million to the victims' families.

And on Saturday, the industry's artistes' and directors' associations met at a condolence gathering here and collected Rs. 2.5 million for Kumbakonam.

Funds poured in after Tamil Film Artistes Association president Vijaykanth visited the temple town Sunday.

The fire at the school Friday started at the kitchen where food was being cooked and quickly spread to the thatched roof, trapping hundreds of

children in the building.