Brimming with an adventurous spirit, a group of 42 NCC Naval Wing cadets, including 14 girls, set out on a 410-km sailing expedition in the Godavari at Bhadrachalam on Tuesday to explore nature’s splendour and gain first-hand experience in navigating the mighty river by boats under the supervision of two regular officers of the Indian Navy.
The Godavari river sailing expedition would conclude at Samalkot in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh on September 15.
Excitement filled the air on the picturesque banks of the river as the sailing expedition got off to an enthusiastic start with scores of curious onlookers converging on the flood bank to catch a glimpse of the event.
Adventure spirit
The 75-member strong expedition team comprising 42 NCC cadets and other personnel, including support staff from the NCC Directorate, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, embarked on the expedition amid rapturous cheers from the denizens of the temple town. The 14 girl cadets came in for special praise from the NCC officers as well as the guests on the occasion for their spirit of adventure.
The expedition was flagged off by Air Commodore P. Maheshwar, Deputy Director General, NCC, Directorate, A.P. and Telangana. Bhadrachalam Assistant Superintendent of Police Sunil Dutt, NCC Commanding Officer of 8 Andhra Naval Unit, Vijayawada, S.P. Kaza, the overall in-charge of the sailing expedition, were among those present.
Navigation training
The expedition is intended to provide an opportunity for Naval Wing cadets to experience adventure sailing and train them in various facets of navigation. The cadets would also be exposed to local historical places along the expedition route, covering over 410 km from Bhadrachalam to Samalkot.
During the expedition, the sailing boats would negotiate the nerve testing rapids at various points in the river. It would also transit through Papikondalu, widely acclaimed as Papi Hills, between Kunavaram and Devipatnam.
It provides a rare opportunity to the cadets to explore the undulating landscape dotted with several tribal habitations and thickly forested hills along the river course.
