Bilaspur, October 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday conferred degrees on 92 doctors of the 2020 batch at the first convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bilaspur, marking a significant milestone for the premier medical institute in Himachal Pradesh.
The graduating doctors received their degrees dressed in traditional kurta-pyjama and caps, as prescribed by the AIIMS administration for the ceremony. President Murmu also presented gold medals to five students who topped their respective categories.
The convocation began with a group photograph of the graduating batch. President Murmu arrived at the AIIMS Bilaspur helipad at around 10.35 a.m. before proceeding to the venue.
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda, Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu were among those present at the ceremony.
As a commemorative gesture, AIIMS Bilaspur presented President Murmu with a traditional Ransingha. She was also presented with idols of Baba Balak Nath and Shri Naina Devi.
The President is scheduled to travel to Manali after her Bilaspur engagement. On Wednesday, she will visit the Hidimba Temple and the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang in Lahaul-Spiti district. The visit is part of her official Himachal Pradesh programme.
In view of the visit, the local administration has announced restrictions on regular vehicular movement from Palchan towards the Atal Tunnel Rohtang from 8 p.m. on Tuesday until noon on Wednesday. Residents and tourists have been advised to plan their journeys accordingly and use alternative routes where required.
The Atal Tunnel, which provides year-round connectivity between Manali and the Lahaul-Spiti Valley, was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 3, 2020. The 9.02-km tunnel had earlier seen the region remain cut off for around six months every year due to heavy snowfall.
AIIMS Bilaspur was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on October 5, 2022, after its foundation stone was laid in October 2017 under the Central sector scheme Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
Built at a cost of more than Rs 1,470 crore and spread over 247 acres, the institute has 18 speciality and 17 super-speciality departments, 18 modular operation theatres and 750 beds, including 64 ICU beds. It also provides round-the-clock emergency and dialysis services and conducts health camps in inaccessible tribal and high-altitude areas, including Kaza, Saluni and Keylong.
President Murmu is scheduled to conclude her Himachal Pradesh visit on October 8 and return to New Delhi.
FOLLOW NOW
