Territorial Army platinum jubilee: Cycling expedition from Siachen glacier to Indira Point begins

The Territorial Army (TA) has launched the first ever expedition from 'Siachen Glacier in Ladakh to the Indira Point in Andaman and Nicobar Islands' traversing a distance of approximately 5,500 km through land, air and sea by Cycling, Sailing and Scuba Diving. The expedition is being conducted to commemorate Platinum Jubilee year of TA as it will complete 75 years of raising on 9th October 2024.

The 21-member expedition was flagged off from Siachen Glacier on 30th July 2024. The expedition team reached New Delhi on 21st July 2024, where it paid homage at the National War Memorial. The expedition was flagged off from New Delhi today, for its further journey to Indira Point, by Lieutenant General Rakesh Kapoor, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Information Systems and Coordination). Lieutenant General Raju Baijal, Director General of Territorial Army and other senior officials from the Army also participated in the event.

The expedition will now cycle through the entire length of the Nation till Chennai from where the team will move to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. After traversing southwards through the Nicobar Islands, the expedition will terminate at Indira Point, the southernmost tip of India, where the Tricolour will be hoisted underwater at a depth of 40 mtr.

Public awareness activities addressing the issues of National Integration, Environment Consciousness, know your Army etc are also being undertaken by the team enroute. The expedition team is honouring the Veterans and families of military personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty. The TA has a wide presence throughout the length and breadth of the country and fostering a Civil- Military connect is also one of the objectives of the expedition.

The TA was raised in 1949 after the enactment of Territorial Army Act 1948. Over the decades, it has evolved and expanded in a larger force which is intrinsic in all spheres of operations conducted by the Indian Army. The TA has actively participated in all major operations carried out by the Indian Army and earned numerous gallantry and other awards. The TA has further played a yeoman role in nation building, environment management and ecological restoration