Swimming expedition to islands named after Param Vir Chakra awardees flagged-in
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday flagged-in a first-of-its-kind Open Water Swimming Expedition to the 21 Islands of the Andaman & Nicobar archipelago named after the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) Awardees, in New Delhi.
The Andaman & Nicobar Command Tri-service launched ‘Expedition Param Vir’, wherein a team of personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard swam to all the 21 islands as a tribute to the gallantry awardees and unfurled the national flag on each island. The 11-member expedition team was led by Wing Commander Paramvir Singh.
The expedition was formally flagged-off on World Water Day on March 22, 2024 from Shri Vijayapuram, with an inaugural swim to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Dweep.
The team swam to all 21 islands, more than 300 kms, over a period of five months. The expedition culminated on the 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 mandates that swimmers can be attired only in swim trunks, goggles, and caps.
Commending the expedition team, the Defence Minister said that it was in line with the government’s efforts towards ensuring that the gallant deeds of Indian soldiers, who sacrificed themselves in the service of the nation, are known to the people, especially the youth, and that these bravehearts become their heroes.
During the event, the expedition flag was handed over to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the presence of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN) Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan and other senior officials.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi named the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar after the PVC awardees on January 23, 2023 on Parakram Diwas, commemorating the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.