Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 30 December 2024
In a powerful tribute to the victims and survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the Air Force Station Car Nicobar, under the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), organised a historic 65-kilometer open-water swim around Car Nicobar Island on 26 and 27 December 2024. The event, which brought together members of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, was flagged off by Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan, AVSM, VM, Commander in Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN).
The swim, which covered a distance of 65 kilometres, was led by Rear Admiral Biplab Hota, VSM, Chief of Staff, ANC, and featured the participation of Ms. Meghana Rajshekhar, a survivor of the 2004 tsunami. The event highlighted the resilience of the people of Car Nicobar, the island most severely affected by the devastating disaster, which displaced thousands and left a lasting impact on the region.
“This swim is a tribute to the strength of our people and the indomitable spirit of the survivors,” said Group Captain Rosha, VM, Station Commander of Air Force Station Car Nicobar. The initiative brought together personnel from across the armed forces, underscoring the spirit of unity and determination that defines the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The commemorative swim not only served as a poignant reminder of the lives lost in the disaster but also celebrated the remarkable ability of the human spirit to overcome adversity. As the participants swam in the waters surrounding Car Nicobar, they embodied the legacy of resilience and solidarity that continues to define the region even 20 years after the tragedy.