Assam CM flags in NCC's Brahmaputra sailing expedition

Guwahati, Nov 6 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday flagged in a sailing expedition on the Brahmaputra river by NCC cadets, which had set sail from the state's Biswanath Ghat 10 days ago.

    The expedition aimed to spread awareness about drug abuse, cleanliness and the legacy of the legendary Ahom general, Lachit Borphukan during the journey, officials said.

    "CM Dr. @himantabiswa attended the flag-in ceremony of the #BrahmaputraSailingExpedition2026 at Pandu Port, Guwahati, today, welcoming the participating NCC cadets and interacting with them," the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a social media post.

    He also joined the cadets aboard a boat and rowed alongside them, congratulating them on the successful completion of the expedition, it added.

    "Beyond sailing and adventure, the expedition also promoted social service, cleanliness, anti-drug awareness and the legacy of Bir Lachit Borphukan, reflecting the spirit of discipline, teamwork and community responsibility," the CMO said.

    A defence statement added that the Brahmaputra Sailing Expedition – MENU 2026 was conducted under the aegis of NCC Directorate North Eastern Region (NER), Shillong.

    Organised as part of the Most Enterprising Naval Unit (MENU 2026) initiative, the expedition celebrated the valour, courage and exemplary leadership of Lachit Borphukan.

    The initiative aimed to promote adventure, teamwork, discipline, leadership and patriotism among the youth of the North Eastern Region while highlighting Assam's rich cultural and riverine heritage, it said.

    A total of 100 Senior Division (SD) and Senior Wing (SW) Naval NCC cadets from 48 and 49 Assam Naval Units NCC participated in this expedition.

    Covering approximately 248 kilometres over 10 days, the cadets navigated the Brahmaputra through six districts of Assam, namely Biswanath, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Darrang, Morigaon and Kamrup Metropolitan, before reaching their final destination at Pandu Port, Guwahati.

    The expedition was led by Lt Cdr Tileswar Nath, Officer Commanding, 48 Assam Naval Unit NCC, assisted by Lt Cdr Mohd Farhan, Officer Commanding, 49 Assam Naval Unit NCC, as the Safety Officer.

    The expedition fleet comprised six 27-ft DK Whaler boats, supported by two Inland Water Transport (IWT) vessels from the Assam government, four safety boats from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and one rescue boat from the participating Naval NCC Units.

    Prior to the expedition, the cadets underwent intensive preparatory training in boat pulling, sailing techniques, navigation, seamanship, watermanship, river safety, survival techniques and rescue and recovery procedures, which equipped them to meet the challenges of navigating the Brahmaputra.

    In addition to adventure training, the expedition also focused on social responsibility and community engagement. Along its route, the cadets undertook various social service and community development initiatives, including Swachhata Abhiyaan, awareness campaigns and anti-drug awareness drives, the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)