Amitabh Bachchan pays for young Meeta's heart surgery

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Kolkata, July 14 (UNI) Overcome by the plight of a poor city girl suffering from a critical heart disease, superstar Amitabh Bachchan today donated Rs two and half lakhs for her treatment.

The legendary actor was watching television last evening when he saw the smiling face of eight-year-old Meeta Mondol and heard her story on the news. The little girl has a critical heart disease, which the doctors had diagnosed as fatal.

Meeta's parents - Debu and Tripti Mondol - had been advised by doctors to make sure she underwent the operation immediately.

However, meeta's father owns a small tea stall and could not arrange the huge sum required.

''The operation requires a minimum of Rs 95,000, which the family was naturally unable to pay,'' said Utpal Roy, General Secretary of Diganta, a city-based NGO, told UNI.

The NGO had been approached by the family to find ways of collecting money for Meeta's operation.

''On seeing the news, the actor's heart must have reached out for our little girl and so called up the channel(Aaj Tak) that was airing our story,'' an overjoyed Tripti Mondol told UNI.

Mr Bachchan had, over the phone with Aaj Tak, offered to pay Rs two-and-a-half lakh.

''Meeta is currently suffering a fatal heart condition in which the veins of her heart gradually weaken and dry up. It was detected at the time of her birth but was expected to improve with time,'' Debu Mondol said, adding, ''Although, her condition is now stable, with no recurrence of any of the previous symptoms like breathlessness and bulging of eyes, an operation has become inevitable.

''We were amazed to see the reaction of the channel and are thankful to everyone who has helped us get through this time of trouble. Meeta is our only child and she is only eight years. I know we will never be able to adequately repay all those who are helping us today,'' an emotional Debu said.

''My Meeta knew she is undergoing treatment but she still doesn't realise the gravity of her disease,'' she said, while talking about his daughter's seemingly healthy condition. Little Meeta was joyous and merrily chattering with the people in the studio.

Bollywood's Big B, who had in films like 'Anand' acted as a doctor, showed his feeling for the needy by making the call and offering to pay for the entire treament of little Meeta.

No sooner had he disconnected the line that Mumbai Hospital also called the channel's studio and offered to do the operation for free! For Meeta's parents, this was a day carved out by her guardian angels as help seemed to pour in from all quarters, including the rich and the famous! Meeta would leave for Bangalore next week to undergo the operation.

UNI

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