It is going to be just a three-hour visit, but the tsunami victims of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu are waiting, for the visitor is special-- former US President Bill Clinton.
Hectic preparations are on in Nagapattinam to welcome Clinton. Senior officials from Tamil Nadu government and the US Consulate in Chennai are in the district to prepare for the short visit.
On Friday, Clinton will visit Nagapattinam, the worst tsunami-hit district in Tamil Nadu where an array of aid agencies, including Clinton's own William J Clinton Foundation, are carrying out rehabilitation of thousands of villagers.
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Clinton is undertaking the quick tour of Nagapattinam in his capacity as UN Special Envoy for tsunami. Clinton was appointed the UN's point man for tsunami reconstruction in February by Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Officials preparing for the visit said he would survey relief and rehabilitation works that the Clinton Foundation has carried out in few villages across Nagapattinam.
"We will show him some of the temporary shelters for the tsunami victims. He will also interact with the victims and relief officials at Nagapattinam," Senthil Kumar, one of the relief coordinators in the district told rediff.com.
He said the former US president would also meet with officials in the Tamil Nadu government, voluntary groups and aid agencies to assess the current status of the tsunami effort in the state.
Tsunami survivors living in the temporary shelters across Nagapattinam said it was great to have Clinton visiting them. "I wish to see him. I have seen him on television," said K Murugan, a tsunami survivor.
