President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has condoled the death of schoolchildren in a fire which broke out in a school in Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu on Friday. In a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, Kalam said he was saddened to learn about the tragic incident in which numerous young lives were lost in a fire in a school. ‘‘I am sure the state government is making all efforts to extend help to the families of the deceased and the injured,” the President said.