Situated at over 10,000-feet, Thoise lies in the Shyok valley and also at the foot of the Siachen glacier, is critical for the quick deployment of men and machines along the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), the line of control (LoC) with Pakistan and the line of actual control (LAC) with China.
New Delhi: In collaboration with the Uttarakhand War Memorial, the Indian Air Force on Tuesday flagged-off its first-ever longest car rally from Thoise airbase in Ladakh, near Siachen to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, traversing over 7000-km, on the occasion of its 92nd anniversary.
Asianet News is the media partner while Maruti Suzuki looks after the logistics part of the car rally that culminate on October 29 at Tawang.
Situated at over 10,000-feet, Thoise lies in the Shyok valley and also at the foot of the Siachen glacier, is critical for the quick deployment of men and machines along the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), the line of control (LoC) with Pakistan and the line of actual control (LAC) with China.
Indian Air Force and Uttarakhand War Memorial’s 7000-km-long car rally
— MoS flags off the rally from Thoise in Ladakh to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh
— West Delhi MP and Anita Yadav of AFWWA released and dedicated “Jai Hind Ki Vayu Sena-… pic.twitter.com/8mX2ZI7h5V
It must be noted that AGPL is the line that divides the troops of India and Pakistan along the 110-km in the Siachen glacier.
According to the officials, the main objectives of the rally is to woo youth to join the Indian Air Force. During the course of the rally, the participants will also highlight the air force’s achievements.
Named as the “Vayu Veer Vijeyta” car rally, Union Minister of State for Highways, Harsh Malhotra flagged-off the rally in the presence of Member of Parliament from West Delhi, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Thoise Air Force Station Commander Group Captain Sunil Kumar Yadav, Uttarakhand War Memorial Chairman Tarun Vijay and IAF officials and veterans.
Malhotra and Sehrawat are driving Maruti Suzuki’s Jimnys to Leh, in an effort to boost the morale of the air warriors.
On the occasion, Sehrawat and Anita Yadav, wife of station commander Gp Capt Yadav jointly released a Hindi Air Force Anthem, eulogising Ever Victorious Air Warriors - ‘Jai Hind Ki Vayu Sena- Jai Hind Ke Vayu Veer’ and dedicated it to the nation.
The rally has 25 Air Force serving officers, two serving lady army officers, including Lt Col Ashwini AS Pawar and Major Swati Basedia.
Lt Col Pawar is a renowned Everest summiteer while Major Swati Basedia is the Army Supply Corps officer and also a famed communication expert.
Besides, six veterans from IAF and the Army are also participating in the rally.
Led by IAF adventure cell’s Wing Commander Vijay Prakash Bhatt, the rally will be accorded a public reception at Leh by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Brigadier BD Mishra this evening.
On October 9, the rally will proceed towards Kargil, Drass. Srinagar, Jammu and Dehradun.