Prime Minister Narendra Modi checked on the health of an Indian Air Force guard who collapsed during a ceremonial parade for Seychelles President Danny Faure on Monday.
The guards were part of the ceremonial reception accorded to visiting foreign dignitaries, particularly heads of state or government. As is the custom, the guards belonging to all three services of the armed forces stood in rapt attention as the Seychelles President inspected a Guard of Honour in the searing temperature of New Delhi.
It was during the ceremony that the jawan reportedly collapsed. He was immediately attended to by other soldiers.
As soon as the ceremony got over, the PM went up to the guards and inquired about the soldier. He reportedly asked the well-being of the soldier before departing to attend other official duties.
The temperature in Delhi has been hovering above the 40° Celsius mark for the past many days with no signs of monsoon.
The India Meteorological Department predicted that Monday will be a particularly hot day with the mercury touching 41° Celsius – five notches above the season’s average. Adding to the woes of the people, the humidity level, too, has been predicted to be at 45 per cent.
Reports say that monsoon is likely to hit New Delhi and other parts of the North Indian plains on 29 June.