India’s air force flew aircrafts over more than a dozen cities on Sunday, as part of a nationwide campaign by the armed forces to thank healthcare workers and other essential services personnel fighting the coronavirus outbreak.

So far, India has recorded nearly 40,000 coronavirus cases and more than 1,300 deaths amid weeks-long nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the virus.

In Bengaluru, a helicopter showered flowers over Victoria Hospital, as doctors and other medical workers in hospital gowns and masks cheered on, local television showed.

A military band played alongside.

In the financial capital of Mumbai, television showed fighter jets roaring over the famous Marine Drive, which runs parallel to the Arabian Sea, as some residents craned for a view from their balconies.

Later today, navy and coast guard ships will line up along more than 30 locations on the Indian coast, with some vessels lit up and firing flares.

The extravagant move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also drawn ample criticism as doctors and other healthcare professionals are working in the frontline amid severe lack of PPE. (Reuters)

Indian Navy’s Chetak helicopter shower flower petals in the premises of a hospital as part of an event to show gratitude towards the frontline warriors fighting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Visakhapatnam, India, May 3, 2020. REUTERS/R Narendra 

Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets perform as part of an activity being carried out by the IAF to show gratitude towards the frontline warriors fighting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Gandhinagar, India, May 3, 2020. REUTERS/Amit Dave

 

Indian Air Force (IAF) M1-17 helicopter drops flower petals over a hospital as part of an activity being carried out by the IAF to show gratitude towards the frontline warriors fighting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Gandhinagar, India, May 3, 2020. REUTERS/Amit Dave

 

Indian Air Force aircrafts fly over Rajpath to show solidarity with frontline warriors fighting against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New Delhi, India, May 3, 2020. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

 

Indian Navy’s Chetak helicopter drops flower petals on the staff of INHS Asvini hospital as part of an event to show gratitude towards the frontline warriors fighting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Mumbai, India, May 3, 2020. REUTERS/Hemanshi Kamani

 

The staff of INHS Asvini hospital are showered with flower petals by Indian Navy’s Chetak helicopter as part of an event to show gratitude towards the frontline warriors fighting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Mumbai, India, May 3, 2020. REUTERS/Hemanshi Kamani

 

An Indian Army helicopter drops flower petals on a hospital involved in providing healthcare to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients as part of an activity being carried out by the army to show gratitude towards the frontline warriors fighting the new coronavirus outbreak, in New Delhi, India May 3, 2020. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui