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Thiruvananthapuram: It was an evening that many from Thiruvananthapuram will remember for a long time. The Shanghumugham beach and the coastal strip which is mostly engaged with fishing activities and trade for the first time saw the skills of Indian Navy right in front of their eyes.
“We witnessed the might and skills of the Navy personnel. It was a great opportunity for me and my friends and family”, said Dr Uma PB, a maxillofacial surgeon based in Trivandrum.
The Indian Navy's capabilities were on display in the Arabian sea off the Shanghumugham beach in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, with INS Vikrant, the first indigenous aircraft carrier built in the Cochin Shipyard, being a key attraction.
Apart from the display of warships and aircrafts, Navy personnel also displayed their rescue and combat skills at the operational demonstration held as part of Navy Day celebrations. Thousands thronged the beach to watch the spectacle on water and air.
As a MiG-29K fighter jet thundered off from INS Vikrant, there was pin-drop silence among the spectators who had gathered in their thousands along Shankhumukham and other beaches nearby. The might of Vikrant – the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier – and the magnificent sight of the jet punching through the skies painted orange by the descending sun was awe-inspiring.
The state capital was on Wednesday evening treated to an exhilarating demonstration of operational capabilities by the Indian Navy as part of its Navy Day celebrations. It was the first time that Kerala was playing host to the marquee event, which offers a glimpse into the multi-domain combat proficiency and battle-readiness of the Navy.
The demonstration commenced after INS Kolkata gave a 21-gun salute to welcome President Droupadi Murmu, who was the chief guest on the day. As many as 19 warships, a submarine, four fast-interceptor craft, and 32 naval aircraft – including fighters and helicopters – took part in the event.
The MH-60R helicopters, led by Captain Sidharth Rana, offered a grand salute to the President by flying at low altitude and dipping its nose in flight, setting the tone for a mesmerizing evening that displayed Navy’s precision, power projection, co-ordination, and expertise. Apart from the President, Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi were also in attendance.
