Rain may hit Republic Day celebrations

The weather in the national capital may prove to be a spoilsport during this year's Republic Day parade as the Met Office has said there was a "possibility" of showers Jan 26.

"There is a possibility (of rain) on Republic Day," India Meteorological Department (IMD) director B.P. Yadav told IANS.

US President Barack Obama is the chief guest at this year's parade and will be in an open air setting for about two hours, something unprecedented in his visit to a foreign country.

If it rains, security agencies will have a tough task as along with protecting Obama, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they will also have to keep them dry.

"If it rains, we will deploy security personnel with umbrellas for each dignitary as there is no other option," an official looking after the security arrangements at the parade told IANS.

The three leaders will be seated in a bullet-proof enclosure set up at Rajpath, the three-km-long venue of the Republic Day parade.