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After the Humboldt Broncos tragedy shook the nation, the world came together to show their support.
The GoFundMe page for the Humboldt Broncos has raised more than $15 million for the families and victims, with people from almost 60 countries around the world contributing.
Horrific pics of the Nurpur school bus accident in Himachal Pradesh. Pics via Kanwar Yogendra @the_hindu pic.twitter.com/yDqGgPTkoD
— Nistula Hebbar (@nistula) April 9, 2018
Now Canadians are paying it forward by helping out a community in India that lost 24 children in a school bus crash just a few days after the Humboldt Broncos collision.
On April 9, 2018, a school bus skidded off the road, falling 300 feet, in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. The bus fell into a gorge in the mountainous region. According to CNN, 27 people were killed, including 24 children under the age of 12.
Extremely saddened to learn about the tragic school bus accident in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. Thoughts and prayers with the bereaved families and with those injured #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 9, 2018
Kapil Arora, an It professor in Toronto who was born and raised in India, started a GoFundMe page for the community, with the intention of using the funds to build a school so that the children no longer have to travel as far.
People affected by the Humboldt tragedy stepped up, feeling the same pain that the community is going through, sending “Love from Canada.”
“Sending heartfelt sympathies to all involved. This is truly a tragic month for the world. Warm hugs from Canada,” wrote one commenter.
“Prayers and well wishes from Saskatchewan, Canada,” wrote another Canadian.
Some even suggested taking some of the money raised for the Humboldt Broncos and putting it towards the new school.
The campaign has reached more than $17,000, with a $100,000 goal.
“Donations have been pouring in from Canada, US, India, Australia and many more countries,” wrote Arora in an update. “Honestly, when I started this campaign, I thought I will raise couple of thousand dollars from my friends and then travel there (at my expense) and distribute the funds personally with the help of county officials.”
He adds that now, his idea to help the community has evolved into something bigger due to the tremendous response the campaign has received.
“I plan to set up a trust in the spiritual city of Dharamshalla, which is a nearby city in the province of Himachal Pradesh,” he said. “This trust will build a modern English medium school in one of these villages. Trust will be registered as a charitable educational organization and will run this school. We will start as an elementary school and expand to middle school with time.”