Tomorrow on the national festive occasion of Republic Day, the temperature is likely to plunge to 5°C and dense fog hang in the air. Sky obscured conditions and moderate breeze will restrict the sunshine and increase the chill factor in Delhi. The ceremonial parade down the Rajpath will have to brave inclement weather conditions. Sun may not be kind at all for the entire duration of the ceremony.
Today base observatory at Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 7.4°C and Meteorological Office at Lodhi Road close to the venue of parade measured 6.4°C. Yesterday happened to be a cold day also with day temperature not lifting beyond 15°C. Similar conditions are expected today and may even extend for the 3rd consecutive day tomorrow. The combination of the cold day along with cold wave has compounded the problem both for the participants and spectators.
This possibly will be the coldest Republic Day morning since 2008 when the minimum temperature plummeted to 4.1°C. A dense fog had enveloped the celebration in 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2018. A light rain sprinkled Rajpath in the year 2015 and 2017. This will be the 3rd consecutive year without the threat of rain.
The strength of each contingent of the parade and the distance has been shortened this time in view of insidious Coronavirus pandemic. As part of the security arrangements, the Delhi Metro will be partially curtailed and no parking facilities available. This will be the first R-Day parade without a chief guest in more than 5 decades. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had to drop out as a chief guest and cancelled his visit due to the rapid rise of Covid-19 cases in the United Kingdom. In the past, there was no chief guest during the Republic Day celebration in 1952, 1953, and 1966.