Friday, December 24 2004 14:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Vangara (AP): There was a pall of gloom at former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao's native Vangara village in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh after hearing the news of his demise.

Villagers gathered at his ancestral house and wept inconsolably.

A villager Venkaiaha said, " We used to call him (Rao) 'dora' (an elder) who brought laurels to the village."

Recalling Rao's contribution to the village, former Prime Minister's childhood friend Ch Bhadraiah said, "Every facility in the village came up on the land donated by Rao whether it is hospital, school, sub-station or temple.

"He was a man who practised what he taught," Bhadraiah said.

"Whenever we go to other places we proud of introducing as natives of Vangara, said Mujid Ahmed, a school teacher.