Hordes throng Indian village to see eclipse

HORDES of scientists, students and nature enthusiasts prepared yesterday for the longest total solar eclipse of this century, while millions planned to shutter themselves indoors, giving in to superstitious myths about the phenomenon.

Today’s eclipse will first be sighted at dawn in India’s Gulf of Khambhat, just north of the metropolis of Mumbai, before being seen in a broad swath moving north and east to Nepal, Burma, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China.

The eclipse will last 6 minutes and 39 seconds at its maximum point, but will be seen for 3 minutes and 48 seconds in Taregna, an obscure village, 40 kilometres east of the Bihar state capital Patna. Scientists say Taregna will have the clearest view of the eclipse in India.