New Delhi leg of Olympic torch relay concludes

The cauldron is lit by torchbearers after the torch relay in New Delhi, India, April 17, 2008. New Delhi is the 11th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland. (Xinhua Photo)

NEW DELHI, April 17 (Xinhua ) -- The Beijing Olympic torch relay in New Delhi, which began 4:45 p.m. (local time) Thursday on the Raj Path, and ended peacefully at the India Gate 45 minutes later.

The 2.3-kilomerter relay began at Raisina Hill where the torch was lit by Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi. The relay, comprising around 70 participants from all walks of life, including four Chinese runners, saw the torch changing hands as it made its way to the India Gate, where a cauldron waited to be lit.

The torch that had arrived in New Delhi on the early Thursday morning, was greeted by schoolchildren who had lined up alongside the Rajpath, waving the Indian and Chinese flags.

The torch is set to leave for Bangkok on Thursday evening.