LUMBINI: Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has arrived here in connection with an official visit to Nepal.
He arrived on a special helicopter of the Indian Air Force, leading an 11-member delegation. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba welcomed his Indian counterpart at the helipad constructed near the International Buddhist Prayer Center and Auditorium here in Lumbini.
First Lady Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Narayan Khadka, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Renu Kumari Yadav, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale and Minister for Education, Science and Technology Devendra Paudel were also at hand to welcome the visiting Indian dignitary.
Also present were the Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, Kul Prasad KC; Government Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi; Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal; Ambassador of Nepal to India, Dr Shanker Sharma; Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Namya Khampa, among other officials.
Indian PM Modi waved to the general public gathered at the location after alighting from the helicopter.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to perform puja (worship) at the Mayadevi Temple after this.
