The hologram of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was switched off today because of high wind velocity and rain, top sources in the government have told NDTV, adding that they wanted to prevent a "short circuit" and also to protect this "very expensive hologram".
"As you can see, the hologram was functioning perfectly through the night yesterday and day before. We will operationalise it as soon as wind velocities come down. This is standard precaution anywhere in the world," a top source in the government, who did not wish to be named, told NDTV.
Trinamool's Saugata Roy took a swipe at the government in Parliament over the missing hologram.
"Gone with the wind," he quipped.
The 28 feet-by-6 feet hologram statue is powered by a 30,000 lumens 4K projector. The light is thrown on a high-grain, 90 per cent transparent holographic screen that is not visible to visitors. The hologram will be replaced by a granite statue of the freedom fighter.
The hologram presently acts as a filler in place of iconic Amar Jawan Jyoti or the "eternal flame" for soldiers at India Gate which has been merged with the torch at the National War Memorial.
It was also switched off on January 28 and January 29 due to wind, said officials.
During the Beating Retreat ceremony, which marks the end of Republic Day celebrations, NDTV had tweeted photos of the canopy without the hologram on January 29.
Man Dancing Around Visibly Uncomfortable Russian Tourist At India Gate Sparks Outrage Online Ministry Of Culture Invites Applications For Various Positions, Check Details "Great Example": Bill Gates On India's Focus On Reducing Malnutrition Walmart Employee's Big Claim After Indian-Origin Teen Found Dead In Oven Who Was Gursimran Kaur, Indian Teen Found Dead In Walmart Oven Businessman's Rs 1 Crore Rolex Gift To Contractor For Building His "Fortress" North Korea Says It Test-Fired Latest ICBM Hwasong-19 On Thursday Ex-Armyman Opens Fire At Man Over Parking Dispute In Pune; Arrested US Elections: 60 Million Cast Early Votes In Kamala Harris-Trump Tight Race Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.