Noida: Shaheed Smarak Sanstha on Saturday celebrated 74th Independence Day with patriotic fervour and pride at Sector 29, amid the Covid-19 crisis.
The tricolour along with flags of the three services fluttered majestically in the morning breeze. It added to the great ambience of the memorial.
Lt Gen SK Singh, Executive Director of Sanstha paid floral tributes to 38 martyrs of Noida on the base of the cenotaph at the Shaheed Smarak.
Following which, next of kin (NOK) of martyrs, Dr Nihal Naqvi, Bhawna Singh, Seema Anand, Col MP Chhibber accompanied by his son Cdr Asim, Col VN Thapar, Col KK Singh, VP Sardana, Flt Lt JP Sharma, Col JR Trikha along with Puneesh Trikha paid a rich tribute to the martyrs.
Principal Jyoti Rana, and Vice Principal R Sriniwasan of Army Public School; Directors of Shaheed Smarak, Major Gen DK Sen, Brig A Bali, Col Venish Rai, Cdr Narinder Mahajan, Lt Col Mahender Kumar and Gumbeer were present on the occasion and paid their homage to 38 martyrs.
Other members of Sanstha, above the age 80 years, including Lt Gen GL Bakshi, Chairman; could not attend owing Covid-19 crisis. They prayed, remembered and paid tributes to 38 war heroes who hailed from Gautam Budh Nagar.
According to the organiser, all the precautions, as laid down by District Magistrate, were adhered to, thus restricting the number of attendees to avoid overcrowding.
People from all walks of life and school children donning face masks and maintaining social distancing joined the celebration.
This has been the tradition since 2002. Shaheed Smarak Sanstha celebrated this year’s Independence Day on low key due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to the media, Commander Narinder Mahajan informed that the dates and the chief guest for Vijay Diwas and Annual Day functions in December 2020 and February 2021 respectively, are being finalised.