Gelling, Dec 23: Brahmaputra Aamantran Abhiyan (BAA), the near-month-long adventurous and challenging river rafting expedition covering more than 900 km of Siang and Brahmaputra waters was flagged off today here in Gelling, the last village of the country  in Upper Siang district which is 1.6 km away from the Indo-China border by Union Minister of State-Youth Affairs, Sports and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju.

Organised by the Brahmaputra Board under Union Ministry of Jal Shakti with active support from the governments of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, NDRF and other institutions, BAA is a mass outreach initiative to popularize sustainable practices and river rejuvenation. 

Flagging off the unique event in presence of State Health Minister Alo Libang, Chairman, Brahmaputra Board Rajiv Yadav, DIG (Trg), Hq DG NDRF Manoj Kumar Yadav, Commandant 12 NDRF Itanagar Rajesh Thakur, officials of the Upper Siang District Administration and local people, Rijiju along with the NDRF officials also took part in the rafting expedition. 

The expedition will terminate on January 21, 2021 at Assameralga in Mankachar district of Assam near the Indo-Bangladesh border covering around 917 km along the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh and Brahmaputra in Assam. On the way, the team will navigate some of the most dangerous rapids categorised as Grades V & VI such as Marta and Toothfairy while in the Upper Siang course. Deep gorges, rapids and waterfalls will make the expedition perilous.

BAA is being undertaken by a team of NDRF, officers of the Brahmaputra Board and a group of scientists with the help of the Tourism departments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and District Administrations. Two NDRF BNs are involved in the journey spread over three legs. The first two legs i.e. from Gelling to Pasighat and Pasighat to Tezpur (December 23-January 9) will be supported by 12 NDRF Itanagar. 1st NDRF Guwahati will participate in the third leg which will commence on January 10 from Tezpur and finally end on January 21 at Assameralga. 

Besides participating, one team of the NDRF will shadow the expedition throughout the route with all necessary rescue and medical support equipment.