Indian Army arrives at Chennai port after travelling thousands of nautical miles

Travelling over thousand nautical miles, the Indian Army, which recently undertook wind sailing expedition from Haldia on the East coast to Porbandar on the West, arrived at Chennai port recently. 

The expedition 'Round the Indian Peninsula', organised by EME Sailing Association, Secunderabad, was flagged-off from Haldia on October 21, by Lieutenant General Paramjit Singh, Commandant, Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering. 

Around 50 sailors from all arms and services of the Army are participating in the expedition which has been undertaken for the first time in an Ocean going Bavaria Class 44 feet Sail Yacht, a release said. 

The team reached Chennai on October 27. On further sailing from Chennai, Team leader Major Alok Kumar Yadav said, Karaikal route will be "special and challenging" as the team would be the first to attempt to cross Pamban Bridge on a sailboat. 

"This feat has never been attempted," he said. Flagging off the voyage in Chennai, Major General and Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers Deputy Commandant TSA Narayanan said, "such expeditions go a long way in generating interest in adventure activists among our men." 

The expedition would train the officers and men in seamanship and boat handling beside preparing them for more challenging expeditions, he said. 

After visiting Vishakapatnam and Chennai, the team would halt in Thiruvananthapuram, Mangaluru, Goa, and Porbandar. 

The expedition, expected to be completed in 45 days, is aimed at fostering a spirit of adventure among the young soldiers of the Indian Army and spreading awareness about Ocean pollution by collecting samples of polluted water from seas.

(With inputs from agencies.)