INS Pondicherry decommissioned after 30 years of service

Mumbai, Oct 5 (UNI) Minesweeper INS Pondicherry was today formally decommissioned after almost 30 years of service.

On the occasion, a solemn ceremony was held at the Naval Dockyard here were serving and retired naval personnel, who have served onboard INS Pondicherry, were present.

The ship, the second minesweeper of her class, was commissioned by Devika Teja, wife of J Teja, the then Minister, at the Indian Embassy in Russia, at Riga (Latvia) of erstwhile USSR on February 2, 1978. Commander S J contracter was the first Commanding Officer.

During the 30 years of her service, INS Pondicherry had participated in all major naval excercises and was deployed off the Gujarat coast for minesweeping duties.

The then President of India and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Giani Zail Singh had been on the ship for the review of the Naval Fleet during President's Fleet Review in February 1984.

UNI