“To continue supporting the fight”
At the press conference conducted at New Delhi on 1 May 2020, General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), accompanied by Gen MM Naravane, COAS, Admiral Karambir Singh, CNS and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, CAS addressed national média to acknowledge efforts of India’s Corona Warriors and vowed “to continue the support of (those) front-line warriors over the passage of the crisis”.
Gen Bipin Rawat stated that the period from 24 March till 3 May 2020 was when considerable sacrifice was asked from every Indian. Most Indians heeded the call for lockdown and worked from home. “There however are a handful of Indians, ‘the Corona Warriors’, who risked and are still risking their lives every day to ensure that basic amenities such as electricity and water are delivered to everyone, that the streets are clean, that basic food items are available, that no patient is returned untreated, that law and order is maintained and that Indian citizens stranded abroad are brought back and cared for. These Corona warriors, be they doctors, nurses, hygiene and sanitation staff, police personnel or media personnel, they have ensured that India keeps on fighting this pandemic. We salute these warriors and their efforts and wish them the best of health. We are grateful for their sacrifice and their efforts in fighting COVID-19, knowing fully well the dangers that they face”.
The CDS added that to show solidarity of India’s defence forces, its frontline soldiers with the Corona Warriors on 3 May 2020. India’s armed forces would organise multiple events including flypasts by fighter and transport aircraft of the IAF, covering the country from Srinagar in the north to Thiruvanthapuram in the south, from Dibrugaarh in the east to Kacchh in the west. Helicopters from the IAF and IN would shower flower petals on the hospitals treating Covid patients. Navy and Coast Guard ships would also sail in formation at select locations while Army bands would visit COVID hospitals to play appropriate tunes outside hospitals in an expression of gratitude to the Corona Warriors.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also lauded the efforts of India’s Armed Forces in carrying out multiple activities at various locations across the country on land, sea and in the air to Salute the Corona Warriors, who are steadfastly fighting to stop the spread of the virus.
Referring to the fly pasts and showering of petals by helicopters of IAF, Navy and Coast Guard on hospitals, he said that they saluted the nation’s resolve and unity in overcoming the challenges posed by COVID19, thanking the Armed Forces for their special initiatives to express gratitude towards medical professionals, police and other frontline warriors and added that “the entire nation stood united in these challenging times”.
Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Agra, Amritsar, Belgaum, Ranikhet, Pithoragarh were among many metropolis, big and small townships which witnessed the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, paying tributes, including laying wreaths at various police memorials.
Fighter formations, comprising Sukhoi Su-30MKIs, MiG-29s and Jaguars carried out flypast over Rajpath and some orbited over Delhi, as also C-130J Hercules over the NCR region. Su-30MKIs flew over Mumbai and witnessed by lakhs of citizens from roof tops of the metropolis.
A number of Navy and Coast Guard ships were illuminated at 25 locations along the coastline including at remote sites and island territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands.
Indian Navy salutes Corona Warriors …
…on Land, Air and the Seas
The Indian Navy saluted the ‘Corona Warriors’ on 3 May 2020 through a number of activities on the ground, water and in the air. Station Commanders and Senior Naval Officers across the three Commands (Western, Southern and Eastern Naval Commands) and the Andaman & Nicobar Command applauded healthcare professionals, sanitation workers, policemen and others engaged in fighting the pandemic.
1500 Indian Navy personnel at INS Hansa, Goa formed a Human Word Chain along the Dabolim runway, the SNC band played lilting numbers on a warship berthed opposite the Cochin Shipyard Limited and near the Vikrant-Venduruthy Bridge, epochal landmarks of Kochi. Naval Bands also performed onboard the decommissioned carrier INS Viraat in Mumbai harbour.
A Chetak helicopter of the Navy showered flower petals on the District Hospital at Kochi. Subsequently, a seven aircraft flypast consisting of two Dornier 228s, a SeaKing helicopter, two Dhruv helicopters and two Chetaks was conducted over the city’s Marine Drive, alongside steampast by seven fast interceptor craft of the Navy in the channel, displaying a banner of appreciation.
In the East, a Chetak helicopter from INS Dega showered petals over Vizakhapatnam’s Andhra Medical College, and other institutes. In the West, an IN Chetak helicopter showered petals over Kasturba Gandhi hospital and Asvini Naval hospital in Mumbai while Indian Naval aircraft carried out fly pasts along with those of the Air Force and Coast Guard over various parts of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Eastern Naval Command ships, INS Jalashwa and INS Savitri saluted Corona Warriors on their relentless fight against the pandemic as to Western Naval Command personnel in the Arabian Sea. Indian Navy personnel on board INS Vikramaditya off Karwar formed a human word chain in thanking the Corona Warriors.
The day’s events culminated with 25 Indian Naval warships in nine port cities being illuminated along with the firing of flares and sounding of sirens in the evening.
The Indian Coast Guard also actively took part in the ‘India Thanks COVID-19 Warriors’ initiative, illuminating ships and showering petals at hospitals treating Corona patients. Coast Guard vessels were illuminated at 25 locations along the entire Indian coastline including remote sites and far flung island territories. Coast Guard helicopters showered petals over COVID-19 hospitals at five locations, some 46 ships and 10 helicopters taking part in this initiative.