The rain could also lead to water logging and traffic snarls as most of the roads leading to the giant amphitheatre are mostly unpaved.
Highlights
- Met department issues rain and thunderstorms warning on the day of event
- The event has a huge open-air stage for artistes, enclosures for people
- Rain could lead to waterlogging, traffic snarls on the road to the venue
The National Green Tribunal may have let Sri Sri Ravishankar's Art of Living to go ahead with the World Cultural Festival after a rap on the knuckles, but weather could play spoilsport at the largely open-air mega-fest.
The India Meteorological Department or IMD has issued a warning that "an intense western disturbance currently lying over Iran and neighbourhood would affect Indian sub-continent from March 11 onwards." That is also the day the festival begins.
IMD says, "Rain or thundershowers could occur at most/many places over plains of northwest India." The venue of the event has a huge open-air stage, spread over an area occupied by six football fields, to accommodate the thousands of artistes who will take part in the fest. Besides, open enclosures have been put up to accommodate the more than 3.5 million people expected to attend it.
The IMD has warned, "Thunderstorm accompanied with strong winds and isolated hailstorm could occur over Delhi from March 11 to 13."
The rain could also lead to water logging and traffic snarls as most of the roads leading to the giant amphitheatre are mostly unpaved.
On Friday, PM Modi is to open the festival that will feature yoga and meditation sessions, peace prayers and cultural performances. A separate enclosure is being set up for him close to the gate but amid security concerns, it is not clear whether he will finally attend.