By IANS
Khadakwasla (Maharashtra): A desert safari expedition took off from here Monday to start the diamond jubilee celebrations of the National Defence Academy (NDA).
The celebrations would culminate in January 2009 when the NDA completes 75 years.
A group of eight officers and ten cadets of NDA, led by Group Captain N.B. Sathe, left the academy in a convoy of six vehicles, which was flagged off by NDA Commandant Air Marshal T.S. Randhawa.
“This is first of the many events which the academy will be undertaking to mark the event,” said Randhawa.
The sixteen-day expedition is a test of endurance and skill of the cadets and officers in handling various conditions associated with the terrain, weather and vehicles.
Among the places of importance the safari will visit are Longewala, where the famous Battle of Longewala (India-Pakistan war) was fought; Pokharan ranges, a place where continuous live firing by aircraft of Indian Air Force takes place and Mahajan field ranges known for artillery firings.
“The expedition is purely adventure activity pushing man and machine to the limits to say the least. Words at this stage cannot describe the experience,” Randhawa said.