R-Day: Showers leave admn worried

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 21

The rain played a spoilsport amid rehearsals for the Republic Day celebrations on Gandhi ground here as the field staff feared that more showers would make it difficult in organising the event on January 26.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kamaldeep Singh Sangha visited the place and asked the officials concerned to make preparations keeping in view the rain. He stated that the ground would be made ready for the final event. The DC also witnessed the rehersals and issued instructions for further improvement.

It has been seen in the couple of years that the administration had to cut short the celebrations on the final day due to slippery ground or even showers on the day of event. The DC said final full dress rehersals would be held on December 24.

He also asked the organisers to ensure cleanliness after the conclusion of the event. Contingents of the police, homeguards, NCC students and scouts along with school students would be participating in the march past.

Preparations for the colourful cultural event post parade are also being made. Rehearsals are going on for the past more than a week.

The city has witnessed intermittent drizzling for 24 hours. As the MeT has forecast more rains in the next 48 hours, it has left the field staff worried. “If there is no more rain, things will be managed as there are still three days to go. The ground is already slippery. More showers, if occur, will leave the ground waterlogged,” said a worker.

The meeting was attended by ACP Gaurav Tura, Assistant Commissioner (General) Shivraj Singh Bal, Assistant Commissioner (Grievances) Alka Kalia and heads of several departments.