Kerala - Kozhikode   

NCC spreads awareness of chikungunya

Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE: A 11-day boat-pulling and sailing expedition, conducted along with a chikungunya awareness campaign, on the backwaters from Korappuzha to Kuttiyadi in the district undertaken by 9 (K) Naval Unit NCC under Group Headquarters, Calicut proved to be a thrilling experience for 25 cadets .

The unit also made history by wide-opening the Payyoli Cheerp, enabling passenger boats to pass through during the expedition. The cheerp was only opened partially till then, says Rajan M. Thodi, Lieutenant Commander and Commanding Officer of the 9 (K) Naval Unit NCC.

"It was a thrilling experience," says Aswanth P., cadet captain and final-year student of B.Sc. Mathematics at St. Joseph's College, Devagiri, Kozhikode, who was part of the Youth Exchange programme to Singapore this year from the country. "It brought back memories of that trip," says Aswanth.

There were some difficult situations too. "During the upstream expedition, sailing through whirlpools at Kakkat point where it was a question of advance or retreat taught us to face challenges. The 11 days of pulling, sailing and kayaking for 430 km through Korappuzha, Ankalapuzha and Kuttiyadi river under inclement weather gave us diverse opportunities to take quick decisions and feel self confident of our abilities," says Mr. Rajan.

"It was a unique experience. I am now confident of facing any difficulty in my life. Opening of the Cheerp by the cadets was also a cherishing moment of collective effort," says Anoop P, third-year Zoology student at Malabar Christian College, Kozhikode. Saheer M, a final-year student of B.Sc. Food Technology at MES Mampad College in Malappuram district, says facing the water currents at Kuttiyadi was a difficult situation.

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