Fog lifts for R-Day flypast, flower shower cancelled

As the sky turned blue after a dense fog in the morning, Indian Air Force aircraft were able to carry out the customary flypast during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Tuesday, though the showering of flower petals by helicopters flying over Rajpath had to be abandoned.

As the sky turned blue after a dense fog in the morning, Indian Air Force aircraft were able to carry out the customary flypast during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Tuesday, though the showering of flower petals by helicopters flying over Rajpath had to be abandoned.

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The IAF's aircraft for the flypast included the newly-inducted Israeli Phalcon AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) as well as fighters like Sukhoi-30MKIs.

Earlier in the morning, a white blanket of fog covered the national capital forcing the cancellation of the flower shower. Three helicopters flying in an inverted 'V' showering petals on the crowds gathered below usually signal the start of the parade. But there was no way helicopters could fly in this weather, said a defence ministry official.