Jammu, May 26 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, over six thousand children drawn from all across Bhadarwah Tehsil were forced to sit for eight long hours to wait for the arrival of Indian President, Pratibha Patil who had to cancel her visit of the area on Sunday due to inclement weather conditions.

The Indian President, who is on a five-day visit to occupied territory, was scheduled to inaugurate newly constructed Jammu University extension Campus in the hill bound town of Bhaderwah.

Over 20,000 people, including school children had to return after the cancellation of Patil’s visit. Many school children had come from the interiors, walking more than five kilometres. Reports said that about a dozen children fainted due to the unavailability of food and water.

Meanwhile, officials accompanying President’s family had a narrow escape when an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter carrying them made an emergency landing in a village, about 20 kilometres from the tourist resort of Pahalgam after developing a technical fault.

Official sources said that the 17 Helicopter, which had five officials on board, was tailing another IAF chopper carrying the President’s husband Devisingh Shekhawat, son and daughter.

Later, a State Government chopper flew from Srinagar airport to ferry the officials from Anantnag village to Pahalgam where the chopper with the family of the President had safely reached.