Even rain and cold could not stop the rehearsal, the spirit of the soldiers was shown in the Republic Day parade on the duty path.
Delhi. The ‘full dress rehearsal’ program of the Republic Day celebration parade was delayed on the duty path on Friday morning due to thunderstorms in the national capital. During the rehearsal of the Republic Day Parade, such a scene has rarely been seen when the sky is covered with thick dark clouds and it is raining with the sounds of thunder echoing repeatedly on the duty route.
The prolonged dry winter spell finally ended with light to moderate showers lashing the national capital as it rained at many places in Delhi on Friday morning. The event got delayed due to sudden change in weather which created an atmosphere of uncertainty at the venue and officials are keeping a close watch on the situation. Despite the delay in the rehearsal, the security personnel and officers remained at their respective places.
Many of these officers were seen wearing raincoats and jackets while performing their duties even in the rain and severe cold. Barriers, checkpoints and deployment plans remained unchanged as security personnel remained alert. People, including elders, who had gathered early in the morning to watch the rehearsal, covered themselves with plastic sheets to protect themselves from the rain. Many spectators took shelter under makeshift umbrellas while others remained seated.
Organizers were seen trying to cover as many seating areas as possible to minimize public inconvenience. Despite the delays and unpredictable weather, the overall situation remained peaceful and well-ordered. There was no strong flow of water or waterlogging on the parade route and the arrangements remained intact.
The Meteorological Department said that this change in the weather has happened due to the first intense western disturbance of this year. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, Safdarjung recorded 1.3 mm rainfall while Palam also received 1.3 mm rainfall till 8.30 am.
There is a possibility of light to moderate rain once again during the afternoon and evening. The Meteorological Department said that the sky was generally cloudy in the morning and there were one or two showers of light rain. Apart from rain and lightning, there were strong winds blowing at a speed of 30 to 40 kilometers per hour. Light fog was also seen in the early morning hours.
Comments are closed.