In honour of the doctors, medical staff, and essential workers fighting the global pandemic, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy planned a series of events to take place in the major cities of Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Kochi, and Mumbai at 10 am on the morning of 3 May 2020.
“Petals dropped over government hospitals all over the country”
Fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar presented formations over Rajpath in Central Delhi and circled over the city for 30 minutes starting from 10 am.
Further in Delhi, The Indian Air Force’s fighter jets from the Western Air Command had dropped flower petals on hospitals all over the city including Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospitals starting from 10:30 am.
In Mumbai, the fighter jets dropped petals over hospitals such as King Edward Memorial (KEM) hospital and Kasturba Gandhi Hospital.
Similar processions were held over the infectious Diseases and Beliaghata General (IDBG) Hospital in Kolkata at 10:30 am.
As an expression of gratitude, the aircrafts also dropped petals over hospitals in Guwahati and Shillong.
In Kochi, a Chetak Helicopter conducted the procession of dropping rose petals on the district government hospitals.
“SNC Officials thanked those at the frontlines”
The Southern Naval Command, following the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
represented the Indian Armed Forces to show their appreciation to the frontline warriors who are working relentlessly.
Senior Officers from the headquarters of the Southern Naval Command visited General Hospital in Ernakulam and thanked the medical staff, district collectors, police officers, paramedics and other healthcare workers for their successful attempts at maintaining the area as a Green Zone.
The Southern Naval Command band also played famous songs on a warship berthed opposite the CSL and Venduruthy bridge.
“Banners thanking the warriors”
Different aircraft of Indian Navy including Dornier, Sea King, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Chetak carried out a flypast over the city’s iconic Marine Drive followed by a steam-past by seven Fast Interceptor Crafts (FIC) who are involved in coastal security of Kerala and Lakshadweept, along the Marine Drive, at slow speed with banners thanking the coronavirus warriors.
“Traditional way of thanking”
Afterwards, four Indian Naval and Coast Guard ships anchored in the centre of the channel opposite to the Marine Drive and carried out a traditional illumination and firing of green flares along with the sounding of the siren to express their solidarity with those who have come to be known as the coronavirus warriors.
