Security beefed up ahead of Prez's 5-day visit to Shimla starting tomorrow

Security has been beefed up in the city ahead of the five-day visit of President Ram Nath Kovind, who is arriving here tomorrow.

Security forces have been deployed in strength at all vulnerable places and police personnel in plain clothes have been deployed. Checking at entry points to the city has been intensified and strict vigil is being maintained on all suspicious people, DGP S R Mardi said.

Adequate security is in place at Kalyani and Annandale Helipads, Nauni in Solan and Peterhoff in Shimla which is the president's itinerary, he said.

Kovind would attend the seventh convocation of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research at Mohali in Punjab before arriving at Kalyani Helipad here tomorrow.

He would stay at Retreat, the summer holiday resort of the president. In case the copter carrying him faces problem in landing due to bad weather, he would land at Annandale Helipad in Shimla.

Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat would host a dinner in the honour of the president tomorrow.

Kovind would address the 9th convocation of Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni in Solan on May 21 and attend the civic reception hosted by the state government at Peterhoff in Shimla on May 22.

The President would host a reception for dignitaries including ministers, judges, civil and Army officers and leave for Delhi on May 24.