Defence Minister flags-in Open Swimming Expedition to 21 Islands named after PVC Awardees.

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

SHYAM SOOD

Team overcame many challenges in bringing stories of valour/sacrifice of Param VIRs to people: Rajnath Singh.

11 Services & ICG personnel during 300 kms ‘Unassisted Open Water Swim’ unfurl National Flag at 21 Islands.

RAJOURI/DELHI SEPT 20:-On Friday Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh flagged-in a first-of-its-kind Open Water Swimming Expedition in New Delhi which was flagged off to the 21 Islands of the Andaman & Nicobar archipelagos re-named after the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) Awardees.
The expedition was formally flagged-off by Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan (CINCAN) on World Water Day on March 22, 2024, from Shri Vijayapuram, with an inaugural swim to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Dweep.
On January 23 in 2023, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had named 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar after the PVC awardees on Parakram Diwas commemorating the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
“To commemorate the first anniversary of the renaming, the Tri-service Andaman & Nicobar Command launched ‘Expedition Param Vir’, wherein a team of personnel from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard undertook swimming to all the 21 islands as a tribute to the valour & sacrifice of the 21 gallantry awardees and unfurled the National Flag at each island,” said MoD.
The 11-member expedition team was led by the acclaimed open water swimmer and Tenzing Norway National Adventure Awardee Wing Commander, Paramvir Singh.
Rajnath Singh commended the courage & ability of the team, which successfully completed the expedition by overcoming numerous challenges at sea and brought the stories of valour & sacrifice of the Param Virs to the people.
“The expedition was in line with the Government’s efforts towards ensuring that the gallant deeds of our soldiers are known to the people, especially the youth, and that these bravehearts become their heroes,” said Rajnath Singh.
During the event, the Expedition Flag was handed over to the Defence Minister. The flag was witness to the entire expedition, its challenges, camaraderie and finally the successful completion.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan; Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi; Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN), Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan, and other senior officials were present during the flag-in ceremony.
The team swam more than 300 kms to all 21 islands over a period of five months. The expedition culminated on 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024.
The final swim was undertaken by 78 personnel from the Armed Forces and the Coast Guard, swimming from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Dweep to the Shri Vijayapuram.
All the swimmers undertook the expedition as per the international standards and regulations for the category of ‘Unassisted Open Water Swim’, which mandate that swimmers can be attired only in swim trunks, goggles and caps.
During the expedition, they faced a few challenges like severe exhaustion, extreme dehydration, sunburns and turbulent sea conditions besides multiple encounters with deadly marine life in the area.