The Brahmaputra Sailing Expedition – MENU 2026, conducted under the aegis of NCC Directorate North Eastern Region (NER), Shillong, culminated with a grand Flag-In Ceremony at Pandu Port in Guwahati on Friday.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma graced the occasion and formally flagged in the expedition in the presence of ADG, NCC Directorate NER, senior state government officials, distinguished armed forces dignitaries and other eminent guests, marking the successful completion of this remarkable riverine adventure.
Organised as part of the Most Enterprising Naval Unit (MENU 2026) initiative, the expedition was flagged off from Biswanath Ghat, Biswanath Chariali, on October 28, 2026.
The expedition celebrated the valour, courage and exemplary leadership of the legendary Ahom General Bir 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.
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 challenging expedition.
Covering approximately 248 kilometres over 10 days, the cadets navigated the mighty Brahmaputra through six districts of Assam, namely Biswanath, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Darrang, Morigaon and Kamrup Metropolitan, before reaching their final destination at Pandu Port.
The expedition was led by Lt Cdr Tileswar Nath, Officer Commanding, 48 Assam Naval Unit NCC, as the Expedition Commander, assisted by Lt Cdr Mohd Farhan, Officer Commanding, 49 Assam Naval Unit NCC, as the Safety Officer.
The expedition fleet comprised six 27-foot DK Whaler boats, supported by two Inland Water Transport (IWT) vessels from the Government of Assam, four safety boats from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and one rescue boat from the participating Naval NCC Units. These support vessels provided essential operational assistance and safety cover throughout the voyage.
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.
