President Droupadi Murmu concludes Himachal visit, departs for Delhi from Shimla

President Droupadi Murmu wrapped up her five-day Himachal Pradesh visit on Friday, departing for the national capital after attending a final engagement at ARTRAC.

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday concluded her five-day official retreat to Himachal Pradesh and flew back to Delhi from the Annadale helipad. Before her departure, the President visited the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) in Shimla to attend a scheduled military program, marking the final leg of her stay in the hill state.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh were among the high-profile dignitaries present at Annadale to see off the President. Despite overcast skies early in the morning, the weather cleared up by midday, allowing the presidential flight to take off around 12:00 PM.

ARTRAC visit precedes departure

On Friday morning, President Murmu traveled from the Presidential Retreat in Chharabra to the ARTRAC headquarters. During her visit, she interacted with senior military officers and was briefed on various training modules. The Governor and top Army officials accompanied her during the ceremony, which emphasized the strategic importance of the Shimla-based command in the Indian Army’s training ecosystem.

Weather disrupts planned tours

While the visit was scheduled to include several high-altitude stops, inclement weather played spoilsport over the last few days. The President’s proposed trips to the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, Sissu in Lahaul, and the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University in Palampur had to be called off. Officials confirmed that persistent clouds and poor visibility in the higher reaches made the aerial journey to these locations unfeasible.

Commuters face traffic snarls

The President's movement from Chharabra to Shimla city caused significant disruptions for local residents and tourists. Traffic was halted for nearly 45 minutes starting at 9:00 AM to ensure a clear passage for the VVIP convoy. Large queues of vehicles were seen at Sanjauli, Dhalli, and Navbahar.

Commuters traveling from Upper Shimla were held up at Chharabra, while those coming from Sunni and Karsog were stopped at the Mashobra bifurcation. Although the police worked to restore flow immediately after the convoy passed, the morning rush hour saw hundreds of office-goers and school buses stranded in long jams.

The tradition of 'The Retreat'

The President had been staying at 'The Retreat' in Chharabra, located about 13 kilometers from Shimla, since Monday. It is a long-standing tradition for the President of India to visit this colonial-era wooden building during the summer months to conduct official business from the hills. This year’s visit focused on academic and military engagements, though the local sight-seeing remained limited due to the Western Disturbance affecting the region.

Security and administrative arrangements

The Himachal Pradesh administration had deployed over 1,500 personnel to manage security and logistics during the five-day stay. With the President now back in Delhi, the heavy barricading at Sanjauli and Chharabra has been removed, and normal traffic movement has resumed across the capital's arterial roads.

In a groundbreaking moment for Indian defence, President Droupadi Murmu is set to make history as the first President to co-pilot the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter Prachand during the Indian Air Force's massive Vayu Shakti 2026 exercise at Pokhran Field Firing Range.

Arriving at Jaisalmer Air Force Station in full pilot uniform around 9:15 AM today, President Murmu was greeted by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh and senior officials. Dressed sharply in IAF gear, she posed for photos beside the sleek Prachand helicopter, met air warriors, and boarded the cockpit. Group Captain N.S. Bahua is piloting, with the President serving as co-pilot for a 25-minute sortie.

Live updates confirm: the chopper is ready for takeoff, conducting an aerial survey of the border areas and Pokhran firing range—including the iconic Shakti Sthal nuclear site.

Why This Matters Now

This isn't just a flight; it's a powerful symbol amid rising border tensions near Pakistan. Vayu Shakti 2026, the IAF's largest war games, showcases cutting-edge indigenous tech like the Prachand helicopter—designed for high-altitude combat. With India prioritizing 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' in defence, President Murmu's hands-on role boosts morale and highlights women's leadership in the forces. She's even slated to address the nation via radio from the air.

President's Trailblazing Aviation Record

President Murmu isn't new to the skies. On October 29, 2025, she flew a Rafale jet with Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh at Ambala, hitting 700 km/h at 15,000 feet—first President in two frontline fighters. Earlier, on April 8, 2023, she piloted a Sukhoi-30 MKI from Tezpur, scanning Himalayan ranges. Only the second woman President after Pratibha Patil to fly a Sukhoi, Murmu embodies operational readiness.

• Key highlights of today's sortie:
  
  

  • First-ever Presidential co-pilot role in Prachand helicopter.
    
    

  • Survey of Pokhran firing range and border zones.
    
    

  • Precursor to evening's Vayu Shakti 2026 firepower demo.
    
    

Experts like retired IAF Marshal A.S. Bhonsle call it "a morale booster for troops, proving civilian leadership's grasp on defence tech." For citizens, it underscores India's self-reliant edge—Prachand excels in rugged terrains like Ladakh.

As Vayu Shakti 2026 unfolds this evening, President Murmu's feat inspires a nation gearing up for security challenges. Stay tuned for live coverage.