Shimla, Aug. 14 -- Shimla is gearing up for the district-level Independence Day celebrations at the historic Ridge Road on August 15, with Himachal Pradesh Education Minister Rohit Thakur scheduled to be the chief guest and the district administration and police putting elaborate arrangements in place, officials said on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner of Shila district administration, Anupam Kashyap and Additional Superintendent of Police Mehar Panwar, speaking to ANI in Shimla, said preparations for the celebrations were in full swing, with a ceremonial parade involving 13 contingents, cultural programmes and heightened security measures planned for the occasion.

The district-level function will begin at 11 a.m. at the Ridge, Kashyap said....