NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, MAY 3
As a great gesture to show our gratitude, security forces from Sky to Sea saluted the “Corona Warriors’’ for their continued selfless and dedicated acts towards fighting the COVID-19 pandemic across the country on Sunday.
Fighter jets and transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force carried out fly-pasts over major cities and towns, while military choppers showered petals on leading hospitals across the country as part of a mega exercise to express gratitude to lakhs of doctors, paramedics, and other front-line workers battling the coronavirus pandemic.
President of India Ram Nath Govind in his twitter message said, “Appreciate the gesture of our Armed Forces to express the country’s gratitude towards all frontline warriors leading the fight against COVID-19. The nation stands united, as all of us reiterate our resolve to defeat coronavirus through our collective determination and discipline.’’
Appreciate the gesture of our armed forces to express the country’s gratitude towards all frontline warriors leading the fight against COVID-19. The nation stands united, as all of us reiterate our resolve to defeat corona virus through our collective determination and discipline pic.twitter.com/P5hHl99EkX
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) May 3, 2020
In his twitter message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “Saluting those who are at the forefront, bravely fighting COVID-19. Great gesture by our Armed Forces.”
Saluting those who are at the forefront, bravely fighting COVID-19.
Great gesture by our armed forces. pic.twitter.com/C5qtQqKxmA
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 3, 2020
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday thanked the armed forces for paying tributes to all frontline workers battling the novel coronavirus outbreak in India. “I thank the Armed Forces for their special initiatives like flypasts, showering flower petals and several other performances to express gratitude towards medical professionals, police and other frontline warriors,” tweeted Rajnath Singh.
https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/1256852449073086464
Home Minister Amit Shah said in his twitter message, “India salutes its heroic corona warriors. I assure you that the Modi government and the entire country stand beside you. We have to free the nation from coronavirus by turning challenges into opportunities and set an example for the world by creating a healthy, prosperous and strong India. Jai Hind!.”
भारत अपने वीर कोरोना योद्धाओं को सलाम करता है। मैं आपको विश्वास दिलाता हूँ कि @narendramodi सरकार और पूरा देश आपके साथ खड़ा है।
देश को कोरोना से मुक्त कर हमें चुनौतियों को अवसर में बदलना है और एक स्वस्थ, समृद्ध व सशक्त भारत बनाकर विश्व में एक उदाहरण प्रस्तुत करना है।
जय हिंद! pic.twitter.com/ncPszTqMhX
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) May 3, 2020
Helicopters from the IAF and Indian Navy have flown above the hospitals treating coronavirus patients and showered petals, as a tribute to coronavirus warriors all over the country.
C-130 transport aircraft flown over Rajpath. This flying activity is combined with the training activity of the IAF and opportunity flight for transport aircraft and helicopters who are involved in moving supplies related to Covid-19 task.
Flower petals were dropped in Itanagar, Guwahati, Shillong and Kolkata, around 10:30 am. The Air Force band played in Guwahati as well for paying tribute to the corona warriors.
Armed forces express solidarity with corona warriors in Gujarat
In Gujarat, the Indian Air Force showered petals over Civil hospital, Ahmedabad and GMERS Hospital, Gandhinagar by MI-17 V5 helicopters in the morning hours. In the background, there was a scintillating musical performance by South Western Air Command Band. At 1125 hours, a flypast by a formation of three SU-30 figter aircraft was conducted over Legislative Assembly with clockwork precision.
#ArmedForcesSaluteCoronaWarriors #IndianCoastGuard #Gujarat #CoronaWarriors WE ARE WITH U. @SpokespersonMoD @indiannavy @IndiaCoastGuard @DefenceMinIndia @DDNewsGujarati @airnews_abad @PIBAhmedabad @CMOGuj @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/l3o2FhckdW
— PRO Defence Gujarat (@DefencePRO_Guj) May 3, 2020
Golden Katar Division of Indian Army distributed food packets to municipal corporation staff at Ahmedabad, Dharangdhara and Jamnagar. Army personnel felicitated doctors and medical staff at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad and District Hospitals at Dhrangadhra and Gandhinagar.
Sweets were distributed to police officials at Police HQs Ahmedabad and Distt Police HQs at Dhrangadhara and Gandhinagar. Patriotic tunes were played by the Army Band at COVID Hospital Vadodara to bolster the morale of Corona Warriors.
The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy illuminated their ships at Okha and Porbandar from 1930 hours till midnight for expressing solidarity with these frontline Corona Warriors.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow, the flower-petal showering was held at KGMU and SGPGI Trauma Center between 10:15-10:30 am.
In the evening, Naval ships on the coasts of Mumbai, Porbandar, Karwar, Vizag, Chennai, Kochi, and Port Blair lit up and flared fires in solidarity with the corona warriors. Indian Coast Guard ships were seen at 24 places, including Porbandar, Okha, Ratnagiri, Dahanu, Murud, Goa, New Mangalore, Kavaratti, Karaikal, Chennai, Krishnapatnam, Nizamapatanam, Puducherry, Kakinada, Paradip, Gopalpur/Puri, Sagar Island, Port Blair, Diglipur, Mayabundur, Hut bay, and Campbel Bay.
In South India, the Army distributed gift hampers to government hospitals, military hospitals, police stations and police headquarters, corporation office in Chennai on Sunday. The Army also played its prestigious band in two places — Madras Regimental Centre, Wellington, and on the Marina beach and War Memorial in Chennai on Saturday.
In Chennai, helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) were deployed for this effort, undertaken by the country’s Armed Forces to express their gratitude to the front-line personnel involved in the battle against the deadly virus across the nation.
Indian Coast Guard helicopter showers petals over the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Chennai as a mark of salute to #CoronaFighters & express gratitude to the health workers amid pandemic. @SpokespersonMoD #ArmedForcesSaluteCoronaWarriors #MoDAgainstCorona #IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/IpnIHznWn5
— Defence PRO Chennai (@Def_PRO_Chennai) May 3, 2020
An IAF chopper strewn flower petals on the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and the Tamil Nadu Government Multi-Super Speciality Hospital at Omandurar Estate in the heart of the city.
Later, a Coast Guard helicopter carried out a similar activity honouring personnel at the Government Stanley Medical College and Kilpauk Medical College in the city.
CDS General Bipin Rawat had on Friday said the Armed Forces will express their gratitude to the coronavirus warriors through various military gestures on Sunday. General Bipin Rawat said the tri-services including Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force would organise various events for the doctors, nurses, police, media, delivery personnel, bank employees, government employees, and local store owners as a mark of respect for them.
