President Patil expresses grief over Haiti devastation

New Delhi, Jan 16 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil on Saturday expressed her condolences to the Government and people of Haiti following the massive earthquake that hit the island nation earlier this week.

President Patil in her message to the President of Haiti, Rene Preval, said, "We are deeply grieved by the immense suffering and devastation caused by the earthquake on January 12, 2010."

"Tremendous effort, strength and courage will be required to overcome the pain caused by the loss of lives and to undertake rescue and relief missions, as well as to rebuild the lives of the people," the message added.

President Patil has further written to the Haiti President, "The Government and the people of India will stand with the Government and the people of Haiti in their hour of calamity and as they deal with this tragedy of an enormous magnitude."

Earlier Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had also conveyed his condolences to Haiti's Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive and the people of the Island nation on the loss of lives and devastation due to January 12 earthquake, and had made an immediate donation of five million dollars for relief measures. (ANI)