Japan on Thursday marked the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, paying tribute to the victims of one of history's deadliest wartime attacks while renewing its call for a world free of nuclear weapons

The atomic bombing of Hiroshima had marked a defining moment in the closing days of World War II

The United States dropped the uranium-based atomic bomb over the city, unleashing an explosion and intense heat that devastated Hiroshima. By the end of 1945, an estimated 140,000 people had died from the immediate blast, burns and radiation exposure

Three days later, on August 9, the US dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Japan announced its surrender on August 15, 1945, bringing World War II to an end

In Mumbai, the participants were seen walking together in silence as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives in the atomic bombing

Students from educational institutions, NSS volunteers and members of various peace organisations joined the march, carrying placards and banners calling for peace, non-violence and a world free of nuclear weapons