NEW DELHI: The ceremonial parade at the heavily curtailed 72nd Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath this year ended at the National Stadium, the venue where the very first grand event was held on January 26, 1950 to declare India’s transition from a Dominion to a Republic.
The maiden celebrations marking the birth of the Republic of India was not held on Rajpath, the historical avenue that has over time become synonymous with the anniversary ceremony, but it was an amphitheatre named after an erstwhile Viceroy that became the venue for the festivities after the country got its first president.
On Tuesday, only 25,000 spectators compared to the 1.25 lakh people last year watched the mega event from the sidelines of the boulevard, as the parade wended its way to culminate at the National Stadium instead of the regular end point at the Red Fort, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Severe weather-related phenomena like cyclones, tornados, cloud bursts, etc., are increasing in number all over the world in the last few years. This may partly be attributable to global warming. However, an exact correlation is yet to be established because of the complex interaction between land, ocean, atmosphere and radiation from the Sun.
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterised by a low-pressure centre and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and flooding rains. Generally, they form over warm ocean waters within 20 degrees either side of the equator. They feed on heat released when moist air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapour contained in the air; so they lose strength once they move over land. Although their effects on humans can be devastating, they relieve drought conditions.