People are dead. Others are dying. They need help.

And Purdue students are trying, but they need help too.

People in India have died because the earth betrayed them.

The earth shook for only 40 seconds, but the disaster continues today.

Fifty thousand people are dead. That's the same as if the entire Purdue community was killed. More than twice that many were injured.

Fifteen villages are now dead. More than 50 high-rise buildings have been laid to waste.

The people who survived may envy the dead. More than 100,000 of them are injured. Undamaged hospitals have lines of people waiting to receive treatment, and many of those unhurt are now homeless and have been for more than a week. Food is scarce. The average temperature is around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

There is a fund-raising effort being led by the Indian Classical Music Association of Purdue, which is just one of the ways this disaster touches us here.

You see, victims of this disaster aren't all on the other side of the world. Students here have friends and family that have been killed, injured or made homeless by this disaster.

There are victims who are here going to class, teaching classes and living their daily lives. They're hurt by the earthquake hurting others, but they're rendered helpless by distance and obligations at Purdue.

Money donated to the organization goes to help the American Red Cross India Earthquake relief and the India Development and Relief fund.

You can contribute by credit card at www.redcross.org, www.aidindia.org/gujarat or www.timesrelieffund.com/relief.htm. Checks can be made payable to Charity Indian Classical MAP or to the Red Cross or IDRF.

This earthquake and its aftermath affect each of us. Directly or indirectly we've been hurt and the least we can do is help.

Editorial Board: Keith Thomas, Tom McHenry, Melissa Davis and Laura Pelner.