MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 1: Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, on Wednesday witnessed the impact of last year’s earthquake as they toured a town near here amid watertight security.

The royal couple arrived in Patika by a military helicopter and witnessed the reconstruction and aid work in and around the town being carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross and local authorities.

The prince and the duchess walked through the town’s bazaar towards a bridge which was destroyed in the quake and has been rebuilt with British financial assistance.

In the bazaar, hundreds of people welcomed the royal couple. The prince also shook hands with a child, standing with her father along the road.

In a government high school, two girl students presented the couple bouquets. The building of the school was destroyed in the quake, killing 103 of its 385 students and three teachers. Classes are now being held in tents.

The couple visited a basic health unit rebuilt by the ICRC and spoke to patients.

Later, he couple visited a veterinary hospital set up by a UK-based charity The Brooke.

The prince with the help of interpreters asked the villagers about what they were using as fuel and if they planted trees in replacement for those felled. He told them how to better look after their livestock.