Hiroshima observes 68th anniversary of US N-bombing

New Delhi, Aug 6: Thousands of people gathered at a peace memorial park in Hiroshima on Tuesday to mark the 68th anniversary of the US atomic bombing on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

On August 6, 1945, the US B-29 bomber named Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, in one of the final chapters of World War II and on August 9, another atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, killing at least 70, 000 people.

The nuclear bombings destroyed both cities and claimed at least 2 lakh lives while many succumbed to injuries and illness in later days.

Since then, Hiroshima Day is commemorated every year on August 6 with the prime focus on anti-war and anti-nuclear discussions and demonstrations.

With an objective of bringing peace in the world and banning nuclear weapons, the city of Hiroshima holds the Peace Memorial Ceremony in the remembrance of those who died in the first ever nuclear bombing in the presence of thousands of family members of the bombings' victims.

At exactly 8.15 am, the Peace Bell is rung (the time when an atomic bomb was dropped). Then, the Mayor of Hiroshima reads a special Peace Declaration asking the world leaders to abolish nuclear weapons while people all across the city stand and observe a minute's silence.

OneIndia News