Monday, August 15 2005 12:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma today (Aug 15, 2005) collapsed due to heat and humidity while taking a salute at an Independence Day function in Jammu.

Panic gripped the venue for a brief period as Sharma collapsed. He was immediately shifted to a chair. After feeling better he continued with the function.

"I felt a bit giddy and I am all right. Basically heat and humidity in unbearable," he told reporters after the conclusion of the function.

In his brief speech, Sharma highlighted the achievement of the coalition Government spanning from improvement in Indo-Pak relations to people-to-people initiative like opening of Uri-Muzaffarabad road to betterment of security situation in the State.

Amidst tight security arrangements, I-day functions passed off peacefully at Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri, Kathua and Poonch district headquarters.