India's military salutes 'frontline warriors' with rose petals and flypasts

Helicopters showered masked health workers with rose petals and jets roared across the skies on Sunday as India's military paid tribute to frontline workers battling the coronavirus pandemic.

Health workers cheer as an Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter drops flower petals over the staff of the Victoria Hospital in Bangalore. AFP

In one of the first of several gestures on Sunday, petals fell on to the upturned faces of medical personnel clad in protective gear as an army band played patriotic tunes including "Jai Ho" (May victory prevail) from the popular Slumdog Millionaire film.

In several states and territories across the vast nation of 1.3 billion people, fighter jets and transport aircraft in formations took part in low-flying aerial salutes to thank the country's so-called "corona warriors."

Doctors and medical staff dance in front of an army band at a quarantine centre in Amritsar. AFP

"The entire nation stands united in these challenging times," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted Sunday as he praised the "commendable work" of the "frontline warriors", including police which have been enforcing the nationwide virus lockdown in place since late March.

The navy will light up its ships off the sub-continent's shores when night falls as part of the tributes.

An Indian Air Force helicopter showers flower petals on the staff of INS Asvini hospital in Mumbai. AP

The performances were the third public show of gratitude to health and other frontline workers, after Indians took part in nationwide clapping and lamp lighting efforts led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on previous Sundays.

The lockdown was extended for another two weeks by the government on Friday, although some restrictions were lifted in regions that have lower numbers of virus cases.

India has recorded almost 40,000 coronavirus cases, including 1,301 deaths.
Agence France-Presse