GANGTOK, 19 April 2022: In consonance with the ethos and spirit of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’; and to commemorate 258th Anniversary of the Army Medical Corps (AMC), a motorcycle expedition travelled across the distant, far flung areas of the country reached Sikkim Manipal University (SMU), 5th mile, Tadong today.
The main motive behind the expedition is to motivate the doctors and paramedics- the Corona Warriors posted at far-flung areas. In their arduous road journey, the team passed through 12 states, including seven in the North East region. The expedition visited various civil and army healthcare establishments to acknowledge the commendable role of ‘the Corona Warriors’, doctors, paramedics and frontline workers, for providing critical medical support at remote areas with the ethos of ‘Shoulders behind Soldiers.’
The expedition anchored by the healthcare fraternity of AMC, was flagged off by the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services and DGsMS of the Army, Navy and Air Force, from India Gate, New Delhi, on 03 April 2022. It will travel over 10000 km over a span of 20 days, of which 5500 km is through the jungles and mountains negotiating difficult road conditions and inclement weather in the North East region. The team has already covered all seven states of North East, including West Bengal. Sikkim is the final pit-stop for the expedition, which is expected to conclude on April 22.
The Expedition team consists of 03 Spl Officers, 02 Med Officers, 03 Non Tech Officers and 02 Other Ranks along with 02 reserve members from Army Medical Corps. The bikes are from Jawa Motors, special classic Army Fleet edition.
The AMC, which has the unique distinction of being the largest health care organisation of the country, has been assiduously rendering high quality medical care to the armed forces, defence veterans and civilians, including disaster management and medical aid to civil authorities in the borders and remote areas, for the last seven decades. This expedition through its noble mission endeavours to highlight the importance of healthcare services and strengthen the bonds of the army in its selfless service of nation building.
Dr. (Lt. Gen.) Rajan S. Grewal, Vice Chancellor, SMU, warmly welcomed and felicitated the members of the AMC Motorcycle Expedition, in the presence of students, heads of institutions and faculty members of Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS) at the campus here. Team leader Col Rajesh W. Adhau, is a recipient of the Sena Medal for gallantry during the Kargil operations and a reputed adventure enthusiast and mountaineer. Other team members are Lt Col Veerbhadrappa, an Eye Specialist, Lt Col Mrigank Choubey, Paediatric Cardiologist, Lt Col Mahesh Mahto, a Limca Book record holder from previous AMC Motorcycle Expedition, Maj Girish G a long distance cyclist and Maj Srinivas, a Para motor pilot, Hav Vinayak D Dhamale and Nk Deepak Kumar Singh are veteran riders who were also part of AMC Motorcycle expedition and had registered their names in India Book and Limca Book Record for Indian Army along with Hav Yogesh Matwa and Nk Satheesh D who are part of the team as reserve.
The team members were presented with Khadas by Dr. Grewal, who incidentally, is a former Director-General, Medical Services, Army. He also flagged off the expedition onwards its final leg of the journey.
The expedition will visit the Nathula Pass on 20th April before heading back to Delhi via Gaya and Lucknow.