2 women officers of Indian Navy embark on global sailing voyage
Panaji (PTI): Two women officers of the Indian Navy - Lt Commander Dilna K and Lt Commander Roopa A - on Wednesday embarked from Goa on a challenging expedition to circumnavigate the globe covering 21,600 nautical miles over eight months.
Flagging off their journey, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said the two women officers represent an India which defies societal dogmas and aspires to explore new frontiers and the expedition will also contribute towards progressing national scientific research.
The two officers are expected to return to Goa in May 2025.
The voyage was flagged off from the Naval Ocean Sailing Node, INS Mandovi near Panaji, as both the officers sailed on the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini.
Chief of the Southern Naval Command Vice Admiral V Srinivas and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Addressing a gathering, Admiral Tripathi said the 'Navika Sagar Parikrama' will contribute towards progressing national scientific research in collaboration with the National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO) in Goa for a study on marine microplastics and ferrous content across the seas.
It will also contribute with the Wildlife Institute of India for an exploration on megafauna or large sea mammals, Sagar Defence (start up) for their drones that promise spectacular visuals of the voyage, and Defence Food Research Laboratory towards providing customised precooked Indian meals so that "our valiant warriors always feel at home," he added.
He said both the women officers represent the confidence, courage and conviction of today's India and her Navy.
Both the officers represents an India that draws on the experience of 6,000 years of civilisational wisdom and radiates the ambition of a 77-year young independent nation, he said.
"An India that defies societal dogmas and aspires to explore new frontiers. An India that is confident of its capabilities, and has the courage to overcome any challenge along the way," Admiral Tripathi added.
"At a time, when our nation is once again taking to the seas on its transformational journey to be Viksit Bharat, this edition of Navika Sagar Parikrama embodies the indomitable spirit of Sashakt and Saksham India," he said.
Talking to reporters after the ceremony, Admiral Tripathi said it is a proud moment for everyone in the Indian navy that the two sailors will be demonstrating their skills, sense of adventure, fearlessness and focus and ability to fight the tough situations.
"Indian Navy would be monitoring their adventure. We wish them all the best as they commence their journey today," he said.
The adventurous journey will take the two women officers through some of the most treacherous waters, including the perilous passage around the three great capes -- Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope, he said.
There are only two crew members but the mission is one to fly high the Indian flag, Admiral Tripathi said.
They have sailed for 38,000 nautical miles and also undergone a three-year-long training, he said.
Over the period of eight months, the duo will navigate more than 21,600 nautical miles without any external assistance, relying solely on wind power, a Naval spokesperson said.
The two officers, as part of a six-member crew, participated in a trans-oceanic expedition from Goa to Rio de Janeiro via Cape Town and back last year.
Thereafter, they undertook a sailing expedition from Goa to Port Blair and back in double-handed mode.
Further, the duo successfully undertook a sortie from Goa to Port Louis, Mauritius again in dual-handed mode early this year.
The expedition was conceived by the Indian Navy with the inaugural Navika Sagar Parikrama, the first ever Indian circumnavigation of globe by an all women crew of six officers in 2017.
The second edition of the expedition will be an exceptional one as the sailors will become the first from India to accomplish such a feat in double-handed mode, the Navy said.
The expedition is being conducted under the aegis of Indian Naval Sailing Association based at Naval headquarters, New Delhi, and Ocean Sailing Node, Goa, under the Southern Naval Command.
Both the nodal centres will be coordinating the voyage in liaison with international maritime agencies and authorities.
Lt Commander Dilna K, who hails from Calicut, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in June 2014. Her father, late Devadasan, served the Indian Army.
Lt Commander Roopa A, a native of Puducherry, joined the Navy in June 2017. Her father, Alagirisamy GP, was part of the Indian Air Force.
"Sometimes we are happy, sometimes worried," said Alagirisamy, was in Goa to witness the flag off ceremony.
"When she broke the news about the voyage, I was happy as an ex-serviceman, but as a father, I was a little worried," he said.
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Woman in labour dies while being transported in ambulance lacking oxygen support
Palghar (PTI): A 26-year-old pregnant woman from Maharashtra's Palghar district died while being taken to hospital in an ambulance which was not equipped with oxygen and other necessary facilities, authorities said on Wednesday.
Palghar's Civil Surgeon Dr Ramdas Marad said the health department has repeatedly raised concerns with authorities about the lack of specialised ambulances in the region.
The woman, who was in labour pain, was brought to a rural hospital here in a critical state on Tuesday evening.
"If she had come earlier, we could have saved her," the health official said.
Palghar Lok Sabha member Dr Hemant Savara said the health department should take necessary action into the matter and ambulance services should have adequate facilities.
Pinki Dongarkar, resident of Sarni village, went into labour on Tuesday evening.
Her family immediately rushed her to Kasa rural hospital, but due to the critical nature of her condition, the staff there referred her to neighbouring Silvassa city (in the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu) for further medical attention.
However, despite frantic attempts by her family to secure an ambulance equipped with oxygen and necessary medical facilities through the '108' emergency service, their requests went unanswered, a health official said.
They were eventually provided with a regular ambulance by the Kasa rural hospital.
While en route to Silvassa, the woman succumbed to complications and the foetus also did not survive, health officials confirmed.
Dr Marad said the woman was brought to the Kasa rural hospital in a critical state.
According to him, the woman suffered from a condition called Intrauterine Fetal Death (IUFD), where the foetus died in the womb. The exact time of the foetal death could not be determined.
Upon arrival at the hospital, the woman was semi-conscious and showed signs of severe infection.
On issues with the 108 emergency ambulance services, which are privately operated, Dr Marad said the ambulance might have been unavailable due to high demand.
The health department has repeatedly raised concerns with authorities about the lack of specialised ambulances in the region, he said.
Talking to PTI, Palghar BJP MP Savara said, "This is a very sad incident. The health department should take necessary action in this connection. Also, such an incident should not happen in future for this reason."
"The ambulance services should have adequate oxygen and cardiac support facilities. Also, a doctor is required to accompany the patient. I will follow it up with the government," he said.
CPI (M) leader Vinod Nikole, the newly-elected assembly member from Dahanu in Palghar, said he had raised the issue in the House during his last term, but no action was taken.
He criticised the government over "indifference" towards improving healthcare facilities, particularly in tribal areas, and accused the state of prioritising other programmes, such as the Ladki Bahin Yojana, over the urgent needs of healthcare in rural regions.
