February 20, 2002

        The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. C.P. Thakur, will visit the plague affected area in Himachal Pradesh to oversee the measures being undertaken by the State Government for prevention and containment of the outbreak. He will also visit the patients admitted at Rohru civil hospital. He will be accompanied by the Union Health Secretary, Shri Javid A. Chowdhury; and the Director General of Health Services, Dr. S.P. Agarwal. The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Prem Kumar Dhumal; the State Health Minister, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda; and the State Health Secretary, Shri Vineet Chowdhury; will join him on the visit to the affected area. On his return to Shimla, Dr. Thakur will have discussions with the State officials. During his brief stop over at Chandigarh en route, he will also visit the patients admitted at PGI, Chandigrah.