US officials visit AIIMS ahead of Obama's visit

Officials of two US-based security agencies visited the AIIMS hospital and inspected the medical facilities ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to India for the Republic Day celebrations, hospital authorities said Thursday.

The visit to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) by the US security officials was to ensure the medical facilities there, in case anything goes wrong during Obama's visit and his stay in Delhi.

The US president will arrive in the national capital Jan 25 with his delegation. On Jan 26, Obama will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, and is scheduled to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra Jan 27.

"Security officials from two security agencies visited AIIMS last week and took cognizance of each and every major to minor thing like beds, technologies and manpower to handle the situation if anything happens," an AIIMS official told IANS.

As per the norm usually followed, officials from the National Security Guard (NSG) and Delhi Police usually visit AIIMS, Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) and Safdarjung Hospital every year prior to Independence Day and Republic Day.

The AIIMS official said the US security officials also took cognizance of the facilities at RML, Safdarjung and Guru Teg Bahadur hospital, which is under the Delhi government.

"We were informed hours ago about the check. They came and checked the contingency of the hospital for the disaster. Some officials from the US embassy also accompanied them," the official said.

He said there were two teams and both comprised five members each. They visited in the month of December too.