California Fire: Advani speaks to PM

Opposition leader L K Advani today spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing concern over the wild-fire sweeping across California and the possibility of Indian casualties.

In a telephonic conversation, Advani asked Singh whether the government had any information about Indians affected by the raging fire in southern California and steps being taken to ensure their safety. 

California has a sizeable Indian population - majority of them businessmen from Gujarat. The Prime Minister informed Advani that he did not have any information off-hand and would get back to him, sources said. 
     
More than half-a-million people have been evacuated from their homes in California, and about 5,00,000 from San Diego county alone, as the massive fire, which broke out on Sunday, continued to wreak havoc.