Chennai, Aug 8 : Parts of the city plunged into darkness briefly tonight as people switched off lights as part of a campaign to create awarness about global warming.

Lights in various public places and houses were switched off for eight minutes and eight seconds from 8 pm, a symbolic reference to today's date 08.08.08.



The lights in the Raj Bhavan were also put out on the occasion in support of the call given by various public service organizations like Exnora International.

Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said it was high time that an awakening was created among the people of all walks of life on the root causes of global warming, a Raj Bhavan release said.

Students and environmentalists and others converged on parks and playgrounds to stress the need for minimising use of electric lights which are a major cause of global warming.

Braving heavy downpour in some places, the partcipants, including college girls, responded in large number to the campaign organised by various public service organisations like the Exnora International and Carnatic musicians.

Well-known musicians Sudha Raghunathan and Sasikiran also participated in the programme organised by Carnatic Musicians Associations.

Sudha Raghunathan and Sasikiran regretted that the sparrows which were seen in large number in the city two decades ago had become an endangered spieces due to global warming.