Jalandhar, Jan 16: Punjab’s biting winter weather halted President Droupadi Murmu’s itinerary on Friday, preventing her appearance at a high-profile university event in Jalandhar. Officials cited safety concerns stemming from the thick fog that has settled over the northern plains.
The President was expected to deliver the keynote address at the Dr. BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology. Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal stated that the decision to scrap the trip was purely a result of the climate. “The president’s visit was cancelled due to bad weather conditions,” he noted regarding the logistics.
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who also serves as the Chandigarh Administrator, took over the primary duties at the NIT convocation. The rest of the institutional program remained unchanged despite the absence of the head of state.
The President’s stay in Punjab began on a productive note in Amritsar on Thursday. She participated in the Guru Nanak Dev University convocation and was later celebrated at a state-hosted dinner. That gathering saw Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his colleagues in attendance to welcome her.
Meteorological reports have consistently noted that dense fog has hampered transit throughout Punjab over the last several mornings, leading to various travel delays and cancellations across the state.
