President Pratibha Patil arrives on six-day visit to HP

Shimla, May 27 (UNI) President Pratibha Devisingh Patil was today accorded a rousing reception on her arrival at Kalyani Helipad near Chharabra, 16-Km from here this afternoon.

Himachal Governor V S Kokje, Lady Governor Leena Kokje, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, Pratibha Singh, MP, cabinet ministers, MLAs, GOC-in-Chief ARTRAC Lt General J K Mohanty, chief secretary, Ravi Dhingra, Director General of Police Ashwani Kumar, senior civil and military officers and prominent citizens received the President as she alighted from the helicopter along with 10 family members.

Army contingents presented an impressive guard of honour while a brief cultural programme was presented in honour of her visit to the state for the first time.

Mr Dhumal introduced her to his cabinet colleagues and members of the State Legislative Assembly and senior bureaucrats and later she drove straight to 'Retreat' where she would stay during her visit.

Ms Patil was accompanied by 10 family members, including her husband Devi Singh Shekhawat and children.

She would be accorded a civic reception at the historic Ridge Maidan tomorrow and visit key tourist resort of Manali on May 29 where she is scheduled to visit Hadimba temple and Vashist.

The governor would be hosting a dinner in her honour on May 30 and her plans for May 31 were yet to finalised.

She would return to New Delhi on Sunday.

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