Visakhapatnam: Thousands thronged the RK Beach here on Friday evening to watch a rare spectacle -- the Indian Navy’s display of their three-dimensional fire power while fighter jets zoomed past the sky.
Though the scheduled time was 4pm, people started coming in from various sides since noon. Police regulated the traffic flow on the beach road from the morning itself by putting up barricades at several places to prevent entry of vehicles.
Many events were held for the first time on the beach during the rehearsals. MiGs and Advance Trainer Jets Hawks zoomed past the skies. INS Kochi from Western Command carrying MiG 29K fighter jets was present off the Vizag shores. The flares from MiG 29K spewed flares, lighting up the evening sky.
Spectators were thrilled as anti-submarine rockets were fired at the beach for the first time in Vizag’s history. There was the INS Tarangini from Southern Command, an all-women sailboat. Parajumpers and Marcos in black overalls made their presence specially felt on the sands.
As the Sun disappeared in the evening, the warships were illuminated; presenting a spectacular feel of elation to the revelers.
The full and final rehearsal came as a prelude to the main event, Navy Day, to be held on these shores on Sunday afternoon. Chief of Staff Admiral P Hari Kumar will host the event and President Droupadi Murmu would be the chief guest.
Commander-in-chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta was the chief guest for the rehearsals. Senior officials were present. The Navy Day events are expected to draw more spectators this time as these happen after a gap of the two Covid-hit years.
