Aamir Khan cleans Rancho School

Aamir Khan collaborated with Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) in cleaning 'Rancho's school' in Leh.

The London-based Drupka Trust, which runs The Druk White Lotus School, featured in Bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiots, had approached the HCC to help it clear the mud and sludge.

The school is located at Shey, about 15 km from here on the Leh-Manali highway.

Aamir Khan has been hands-on and out to help since he has reached Leh.

The Bollywood star has made several attempts at getting aid for the devastated region.

"HCC India has deployed heavy earth moving equipment and several engineers to help the Druk White Lotus School, we have a team of 75 people working at the school who are clearing the mud ." HCC General Manager (Corporate Social Responsibility) Ms. Niyati Sareen said.

"All is not well". This was how a concerned Aamir Khan reacted on seeing the condition of The Druk White Lotus School where the Bollywood star shot for his super hit 3 Idiots, tweaking the film's popular punch dialogue "All is well" to reflect the ground situation. (Text: PTI)

The school which was damaged in the devastating cloudburst nearly two weeks back shot into limelight after it was featured as Aamir aka Rancho's school in the film.

45-year-old Aamir has a very special attachment with the school, about 15 km from Leh on the Leh-Manali highway. (Text: PTI)

Aamir, who rushed to Leh at the first available opportunity, visited the school which had incurred heavy infrastructure damage due to the cloudburst on the intervening night of August 5 and 6, and some other villages as far as 70 kms from the Leh town. Around 200 persons perished in the flash floods that followed the cloudburst. (TexT: PTI)

Dressed in blue denims and a white T-shirt, Aamir interacted with the students at the school and took a stock of the damage done, appealed to the people to donate freely to the Prime Ministers relief fund.

"It really pains me. I wish I had come in happier times," Aamir, who took the day long trip with 12th Gyalwang Druk Chen, the chief of the Drukpa sect of Buddhism, when asked how he felt visiting Leh post the disaster told PTI.

"This is not how I would have liked to revisit Leh. I will contribute myself and I also want the people to contribute to the PM's Relief Fund," said Aamir.

He said he will also ask his Bollywood colleagues, once he goes back, to donate to the relief fund.

"The film industry never shies away from helping out in national disasters." The actor, who was literally the ambassador for the district, said he will also donate to the school because he has a personal connection to it as his movie was shot here though he himself was never filmed within the school premises. (Text: PTI)

He also appealed to people across the country to come and visit Leh which he said was like paradise.

"What has happened has happened. But things are being brought back to normal. Leh is mainly run by tourism and I would ask you not to drop plans of visiting this place because of cloudburst. Even if you are planning to make a trip later, please come to Leh," Aamir said.

The actor said by coming to Leh, one can help the people as economy here is mainly driven by tourism.

"I am very sad that about 200 lives have been lost and over 10,000 houses have been damaged. My sincere condolences to all those who lost their lives, he said.