An avid swimmer L.Uma Maheswara Rao, a police constable in Vijayawada has adopted a novel way to honor the national flag on this Republic Day. he swam across Krishna river with his hands and legs tied and carried the National Flag on his body.

44 year old Mr.Rao, presently working as head constable in Vijayawada, swam across krishna river from Sitanagaram to Durga Ghat and back to Sitanagaram. It took one hour 45 minutes for his to cover 3.5 KM. Both the hands and leads were tied with ropes. By just using his body, he stayed aflat and crossed the river. People on the banks cheered the swimmer as soon as he completed the task. His associates followed as guards on boats.

Mr. Rao, also attempted this feat two times earlier also. Mr. Rao did his graduation from ABR College at Repalle in Guntur district. He joined the Police Department as Constable in 1994, and worked in various districts.

Students of Siddhartha group of Institutions took out a 'One India Flag March', with a 1,000-feet National Flag in Vijayawada to mark the 67th Republic Day celebrations. The initiative named as 'One India Flag March' is organised by Siddhartha Academy in Vijayawada.

The 1,000-feet long and 10-feet wide National Flag was taken out for a procession covering different parts of the city. Many several citizens voluntarily joined them when the procession of carrying the huge flag began from PB Siddharatha College Premises. As the procession proceed, hundreds of people gathered by the road-side to watch the spectacle.

The march started from PB Siddhartha College and carried along Polytechnic College, Ramesh Hospital, Amma Kalyana Mandapam, Sunnapubattilu Center, and reached the college again, to end the march.

Marking the Republic Day celebrations, the 17th Krishna river swimming competitions, organised by Aqua Devils Welfare Association, were held today. Hundreds of swimmers took part in the competition. Swimmers in five age groups – from five to 75 – have participated in the competition an prizes were given away by MP Gokaraju Gangaraju. The swimmers covered a distance of 1.25 km from our association office to the Bhavani Island.

Aqua Devils Welfare Association, an outfit with membership of over 1,500, promotes long-distance swimming and has been organising this event for past of 16 years.

67th Republic Day is celebrated on a Grand Note at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium in Vijayawada. Governor ESL Narasimhan unfurl the Tricolour Flag. Various contingents from the Indian Army, CRPF, Armed Police Band, the 5th, 14th and the 15th Battalion (Telangana State) of the Special Protection Force, non-combatants like the NCC, Scouts and Guides and the Red Cross took part in the parade. Various government departments displayed their tableaus and students performed cultural programmes. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Cabinet Ministers and the Krishna District Administration participated in the celebrations.

Below is the Image Gallery of 67th Republic Day Celebrated in Vijayawada