POWER-PACKED: A missile blazes a fiery trail after being fired from a naval vessel during the President's Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. -Photo: K.R. Deepak

VISAKHAPATNAM: The theatre was vast and the audience, occupying every inch of the more than five-km-long Beach Road, numbered a few lakhs.

It was the perfect setting for the Operational Prowess Demonstration (OPD) of the Indian Navy to showcase its three-dimensional prowess as part of the President's Fleet Review 2006.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who is also Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, watched the OPD with keen interest and was seen often applauding some intricate and difficult manoeuvres and exercises performed by navymen.

It must be a memorable event for him since the PFR was held for the first time outside Mumbai and also in the clear view of the public.

Thrilled to the core

It was a spectacular and some times thrilling show the huge number of spectators witnessed and enjoyed. From the time the OPD commenced with a couple of power hang-gliders flew along the beach and a colourful pyrotechnic show that ended the OPD, people enjoyed every bit of it.

What thrilled them most was the aerobatics by the Sagar Pawan team as the indigenous Kiran aircraft performed various feats in the air, concluding the show by forming a Valentine's heart. There was also a loud cheer for the eight sky-divers who made a perfect landing on the beach near the dais.

A few thousands had been watching the exercises being done by navymen for the last two weeks but they were not tired and they seemed to have reserved the big cheer for the final show.

Stamp released

After the hang-glider show and the fast attack craft showed their capabilities of launching a lightning attack on the enemy, Dr. Kalam arrived at the venue. After a brief introductory speech by Admiral Arun Prakash, the President released a commemorative stamp brought out by the Department of Post to mark the PFR 2006.

He also released a first day cover and a brochure.

The multi-coloured stamps depicting the strength of the Navy, contain the picture of India's aircraft carrier INS Viraat, fighter plane Sea Harrier, Talvar and Bramaputra class frigates, anti-submarine Sea King helicopter supported by Sandhayak class, a survey vessel and an offshore patrol vessel Vigraha of the Indian Coast Guard along with Dornier Aircraft and the submarines of Sindhughosh and Shishumar class. The First Day Cover displays the Naval Ensign with the anchorage plan off Visakhapatnam harbour for the PFR and its route.

The department arranged a special cancellation which is an adaptation of two ships from the inscriptions of the 2nd Century AD Satavahana period lead coin.

T.S. Govindarajan, Principal Chief Postmater-General, Andhra Pradesh Circle, presented the first album to the President.

Soon the President watched a lady naval officer Rashmi Singh landing on the dais opposite the rostrum with the help of a parachute. She presented him a book "Eastern Shield.''

There were many exercises during the OPD. People saw the indigenously- built Corvette class ships, which were also equipped with state-of-the-art gadgets and weapons and the majestic flagship of the Navy, INS Viraat.

They also saw the Sea Harriers, the deadly fighter aircraft taking off from the aircraft and later landing in a vertical manner.

Marine Commandos (MARCOS) showed how quickly they could act, either destroying an "enemy'' oil installation or taking over a beach.

Fitting finale

As the sun down, a ship fired a missile and four other ships fired rockets, slicing through the dark sky. There was anti-aircraft firing by the ships.

In- charge Governor Rameshwar Thakur, and Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju, the Chiefs of the Army and the Air Force, J.J. Singh and S.P. Tyagi respectively, Union Minister of State for Mines, T. Subbirami Reddy, Home Minister K. Jana Reddy, who is the Minister in waiting, and several other dignitaries were present.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy who received the President on Saturday, were not present for the OPD.

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