UP: President Murmu arrives in Gorakhpur to attend first convocation of AIIMS

President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur on Monday afternoon, where she will grace the first convocation ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), officials said.

The president will award medals to meritorious students from the institute's first graduating batch and deliver a keynote address to inspire the budding medical professionals.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed her on arrival in Gorakhpur. Governor Anandiben Patel was also among those present.

"Hearty welcome to Hon'ble President Droupadi Murmu ji on the holy land of Gorakhpur, the austerity place of Shiva avatar Mahayogi Guru Shri Gorakhnath ji," Adityanath posted on X in Hindi.

In an official statement issued on Sunday the state government had said AIIMS-Gorakhpur has fast emerged as the dream destination for medical services across eastern Uttar Pradesh, neighbouring Bihar and even the bordering regions of Nepal.

On July 22, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for AIIMS, Gorakhpur, under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, it said.

It was inaugurated by Modi on December 7, 2021, and in the last four years it has emerged as lifeline for nearly five crore people, it added.