Rain keeps crowd away from Ramdev rally

Thinning crowds,heavy rain and a brief power outage marked the third day of Baba Ramdevs agitation which was dominated by his announcement of a big decision on Sunday morning.

The downpour on Saturday afternoon caused a portion of a tent near the stage in Ramlila Maidan to collapse and the five television screens were shut to avoid circuit failure. Two screens were operational again by 5 pm but the others,including one closest to the stage,can be switched on only on Sunday,said technicians. Water supply was also hampered for a few hours as the pump could not be operated.

Organisers ruled out fears of an outbreak of water-borne diseases as volunteers made frantic efforts to divert the accumulated water into drains. After the rain subsided,a good number of Yuva Bharat volunteers were on all fours,scooping up water into buckets with their hands. By 6 pm,the Maidan was nearly dry.

Numbers continued to dwindle as the three-day deadline given to the government passed. Ramdev announced that the movement will take a new turn on Sunday.

Organisers were undisturbed by the continuing decline in crowds and promised a grand turnout on Sunday.

Tomorrow you will see the entire Maidan full. We have appealed to people in the NCR region and from nearby states to gather in the morning for Babas announcement, said Ramdev aide Brijmohan Sethi.

We are grateful for the rain today after the intolerable heat of yesterday. We have emergency medicines and ambulances ready in case people fall ill, said Ramdevs spokesperson S K Tijarawala.

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Viral diseases are in the air but most people here are yoga practitioners and have a high immunity. So there is no cause to worry, said Dr Shirish Sharma,stationed at the medical tent.

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Rain keeps crowd away from Ramdev rally

Thinning crowds,heavy rain and a brief power outage marked the third day of Baba Ramdevs agitation which was dominated by his announcement of a big decision on Sunday morning.

Thinning crowds,heavy rain and a brief power outage marked the third day of Baba Ramdevs agitation which was dominated by his announcement of a big decision on Sunday morning.