Kohima: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee arrived in Kohima this evening (Oct 27) after a 75-km journey by road from Dimapur, as inclement weather forced the cancellation of the IAF helicopter scheduled to bring him to the Nagaland capital.

Vajpayee is accompanied by three Union Ministers - Dr C P Thakur, Minister for development of North East region, Bijoya Chakraborty, Minister of State for Water Resources and Ashok Pradhan, Minister of State for Communication - on his maiden three-day visit to the North Eastern state.

The Prime Minister, who had earlier arrived at the Dimapur airport by a special IAF flight from Delhi, was advised after an hour-long wait at the VIP lounge to take the road route.

As news of the delay in the Prime Minister's arrival spread, thousands of local school children, who had lined up both sides of the road braving incessant drizzle since morning, dispersed for home.

However, a number of Nagas from neighbouring Manipur waited patiently for Vajpayee, who drove to the Raj Bhavan.

The Nagas, under the aegis of Senapati-based United Naga Council (UNC) and Naga People's Organisation (NPO) of Manipur and representing different tribes, arrived here by bus and other vehicles in their traditional attire to express solidarity with the Nagas of Nagaland for Naga integration, organisers said.

They carried placards reading "Expedite Naga peace process", "Long live Indian Prime Minister" and "Nagas are united".

Governor Shyamal Datta, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his senior colleagues received the Prime Minister at the Raj Bhavan, where he would hold discussion with the state council of ministers and launch mobile phone service in the evening.

PTI