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Indians in Hong Kong launch relief campaign

Hong Kong's Indian community launched a fundraising campaign on Tuesday to raise at least HK$10 million to aid relief efforts for survivors of India's worst earthquake.

India's defence minister said on Tuesday the death toll from the quake could be as high as 100,000, although the government of Gujarat still estimates the number of dead at up to 20,000.

K Sital, who chairs the Council of Hong Kong Indian Organisations, said he was confident the money would be raised from the territory's 30,000-strong Indian community and from Hong Kong Chinese.

Sital, whose council is an umbrella group for various Indian organisations in Hong Kong, said they would also hold a special religious service on Sunday.

Scores of high-rise buildings were flattened by Friday's quake and aftershocks since then have forced people to stay out of buildings that remained standing.

Indian communities around the world are pitching in to aid victims of the quake. Many countries have also pledged assistance, including India's arch-rival Pakistan.

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