Kalam on Sunday visited Uri, one of the places worst-hit by the October 8 earthquake that left some 1,300 people dead in Indian Kashmir. On Saturday he toured Tangdar, which was also hit hard by the quake.

Amid heavy rain and near freezing temperatures, Kalam met about 300 children under a tent in Uri, 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of the state summer capital Srinagar.

Kalam shared jokes with the children and asked them what they wanted to become when adults.

Some said doctors, others engineers and few said they wanted to become scientists like him. Kalam, whose post as president is largely ceremonial, was the father of India's nuclear missile programme.

"It was great to meet him," said student Nazia Yusuf. "I will remember this meeting for ever."

Kalam also visited Urusa village along the Line of Control -- the de facto border that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

"The president met us and assured us all possible help," said Abdul Rehman, a resident of the village which was flattened by the quake.

Late Saturday, Kalam visited an army hospital in Srinagar and talked to people injured by the earthquake. He also met children from a army-run orphanage.

Kalam was seen off at the airport by senior state government officials including the chief minister and senior army officers.

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