Girish Luthra assumes charge as SNC chief

Kochi: Vice admiral Girish Luthra, AVSM, VSM, assumed charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command from Vice admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, on Saturday morning.
A ceremonial parade was held at Naval Base was followed by the traditional ‘Pulling Out’ ceremony in which the outgoing Commanderin-Chief Lanba was ceremonially pulled out in a jeep by flag officers and commanding officers of ships and naval establishments of Kochi.
Prior to assuming charge, Luthra laid a wreath at the War Memorial as a tribute to thousands of martyrs who had fought for the country.
In his farewell address, Lanba reminded everyone, particularly the personnel under training, that it was incumbent upon them to utilize the training being accorded to them towards becoming excellent professionals in the service of the country.
The parade was witnessed by many senior officers, men and families of Southern Naval Command.
Lanba will now assume the charge of the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command in Mumbai on Sunday on the retirement of the present incumbent, Vice Admiral SPS Cheema who had also been the FOC-in-C (South) earlier.