CHASING THE SUN

With Taregana near Patna being adjudged the best place to view what will be this centurys longest solar eclipse today,state governments have lined up preparations for the celestial experience. To be visible first in Surat at sunrise,the cities through which the shadow of the total eclipse,lasting between three and six minutes,will pass are Ujjain,Indore,Bhopal,Sagar,Jabalpur,Varanasi,Allahabad,Gaya,Patna,Bhagalpur,Jalpaiguri,Guwahati and Dibrugarh. But clouds may play spoilsport....

SURAT: The preparations for the Solar eclipse on Wednesday at Surat Airport are finished. The event has been projected globally through advertisements in newspapers and hoardings at various spots. Thousands solar filter eye glasses have been purchased from a private company of Mumbai and these glasses will be distributed freely to the people at the airport. A special platform has also been erected at the venue site and seating has been arranged. Many people from other countries are likely to reach Surat to watch this event. According to a Gujarat Tourism Department official,46 rooms have been booked in hotels for the expected visitors.

KURUKSHETRA: Nearly 15 lakh pilgrims from various parts of the country and abroad are expected to take a holy dip in the sarovar waters at Kurukshetra during the solar eclipse fair on Wednesday. In view of this,the Haryana Transport Department has set up four temporary bus stands with five traffic managers and extra staff. Haryana Roadways will be plying special local buses between Pipli-Kurukshetra and Kurukshetra-Jyotisar. Large screens had been set up at five to six places in Kurukshetra to showcase tourist places of Haryana and Mahabharata,an official said.

BHOPAL: The solar eclipse will be observed as National Sun Festival by the Science Centre here. Thousands of children from several states and Union territories including Madhya Pradesh will take part in this event from July 21 to 23. Senior scientists and experts including ex-UGC chairman Yashpal and chairman of the steering committee of National Curriculum Framework Anuj Sinha,will also attend the Mahotsava which will be held with the cooperation of the New Delhi-based National Council for Science and Technology Communication. Many astronomy-related activities will be undertaken,sources added.

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government has decided to reschedule the school timings from 8 am to 9 am in the wake of the solar eclipse on Wednesday. The decision was taken by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal keeping in

view the apprehensions raised by parents that the children might venture out to see the sun during the eclipse, thereby affecting vision.