Washington, 05 July (H.S.):

Severe weather briefly disrupted celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence at the National Mall on Saturday night, forcing authorities to evacuate the venue for several hours before reopening it. The delay pushed back the Independence Day programme, with President Donald Trump eventually delivering his address shortly after 11 p.m. Eastern Time.

According to reports by The Washington Post and CBS News, thousands of people dressed in red, white and blue waited for hours outside the National Mall amid sweltering heat and humid conditions. Many became exhausted while standing in long queues, with some collapsing due to the heat and others expressing frustration. The adverse weather also led to the cancellation of the Independence Day parade.

Shortly before Air Force One was scheduled to fly over the National Mall, the US Secret Service ordered an evacuation after severe weather warnings were issued. Thousands of attendees rushed to nearby government buildings and museums for shelter. Some Trump supporters, however, refused to leave and remained standing on risers, chanting slogans in support of the President.

Officials announced at around 9 p.m. that the National Mall would reopen at 9:45 p.m. and that President Trump would deliver his address at 11 p.m. Despite the intense heat and the delay, thousands of supporters chose to remain at the venue instead of seeking refuge in air-conditioned Smithsonian museums. Before arriving, President Trump wrote on Truth Social, Our love for our country has never been stronger!

President Trump took the stage shortly after 11:15 p.m. and thanked those who had waited despite the difficult weather conditions.

I want to thank every one of you because you did not let the bad weather stop you, Trump said. I had already decided that even if I had to speak before just one person at 4 a.m., I would still be here. One member of my staff suggested that my speech could be postponed until next week. I rejected that idea. I said this is a great day, and I will speak on the Fourth of July.

Several senior members of the Trump administration attended the event, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, House Speaker Mike Johnson and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung.

Meanwhile, in New York City, the iconic Times Square Ball was lowered for the first time in the city's history on Independence Day rather than New Year's Eve, drawing thousands of spectators at midnight. Later, ships from around the world sailed past the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor under clear skies.

Health officials reported that 51 people at the National Mall experienced heat-related illnesses during the celebrations. According to the National Special Security Event Joint Information Center, a total of 86 people received medical treatment for various health issues, while 34 were transported to nearby hospitals. Of those taken to hospital, 12 were admitted due to heat-related medical conditions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar