Srinagar: A school in Kashmir had an unusual visitor on Wednesday and by the time he left unceremoniously, 26 students were in hospital.

“A bear entered the Imam Abu Hanifa Memorial Institute in Rajpora today, creating panic among the school children,” a police officer said.

The school is in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The panic triggered a stampede in which 26 school children were injured, police said.

Two children suffered contact injuries, while 24 children were injured in a stampede triggered by panic and fear.

The injured children were immediately taken to a hospital.

Reports from the area said the bear escaped as people raised hue and cry.