Himalayan News Service

Nepalgunj, February 7

The preparation to accord civic reception to the King and the Queen on behalf of the people of the mid-western development region here tomorrow noon is in the final stage.

According to the Central Committee of Civic Felicitation Programme, more than 300 attractive welcome gates have been constructed from Ranjha Airport to the main venue of the function, Mahendra Stadium.

Thousands of volunteers from all the 15 districts of the mid-western region have been mobilised to keep the people gathering at Mahendra Stadium for the reception, the organising committee has stated.

Portrait of the King and the Queen have been displayed and jars filled with water have been kept at various places of the municipality. The municipal areas of Nepalgunj have been decorated and most offices have been given fresh coat of paint. Government offices, houses and chowks have been lit up. Journalists from all over Nepal and abroad have arrived to cover the reception.

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer of Banke district Dilli Raj Joshi said elaborate security arrangement had been made for the success of the civic reception programme.

More than 50,000 people have arrived at Nepalgunj for the Royal reception, Purushottam Shrestha, member secretary of the Civic Felicitation Programme said.

The CFP claimed more than 1,50,000 civilians are expected to attend the programme. The prime minister arrived for the ceremony this afternoon.

Several institutions, including the Shiv Sena Nepal and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, organised rallies today on the eve of the Royal felicitation. The rallyists went through the main thoroughfares of the city of Nepalgunj.

The Royal felicitation is scheduled for 12.30 pm.