India's Defence forces say 'thank you' to "Corona warriors" with a flypast, flower petals, music and more

A number of aircraft of Indian Air Force conducted a fly past over different parts spanning the length and breadth of the country today (May 3) as a tribute to the frontline staff ⁠— doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, police and others ⁠— dealing with the COVID-19 pandeminc in India. This flying activity was combined along with the training activity of the Indian Air Force and opportunity flight for transport aircraft and helicopters who are involved in moving supplies related to COVID-19 task, a government statement said.

Watch the video here:
Courtesy: The state-run broadcaster Doordarshan.

From the King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow to Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai to Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital in Kerala, the IAF aircrafts showered flower petals on the doctors and health staff as a mark of gratitude to their service in the fight against Corona crisis.


A large number of health staff and doctors came out on the lawns outside the administrative block to cheer during the flypast and were seen clicking pictures with their mobile phones. "It was an emotional moment for all of us to get the military salute. It was a high honour for all of our staff.


The Navy gave a memento. The armed forces gave a gift hamper with sweets which were distributed," Jayanthi Rangarajan, Dean, Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital told IANS.


With 2,644 new cases and 83 fatalities in the past 24 hours, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country climbed to 39,980 on Sunday morning, the Union Health Ministry said. Of the total cases, 28046 are active, 10632 people have recovered, and 1301 people have succumbed to the disease. At least 682 people have recovered from the highly contagious COVID-19 in 24 hours.

Maharashtra remained the worst-hit state with the total number of cases rising to 12296 with 521 deaths, though 2000 people have also recovered from the deadly virus. The Sukhoi-30 aircraft flew in a march-past from the Raj Bhavan to Marine Drive in Mumbai while MI-17 and Chetak choppers showered flowers on the hospitals situated in congested localities of South Mumbai, mesmerising the citizens cooped up in their homes.

Inputs from IANS

SEE ALSO:
Jet fuel now costs less than a third of diesel price in India