Port Blair, May 31: Lieutenant General Podali Shankar Rajeshwar PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, the 14th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN) retired from service on 31st May 2020, leaving a glorious legacy and many milestones in his distinguished career spanning four decades. He had taken over the appointment on 01 Dec 19.

During his tenure as CINCAN, Lieutenant General Rajeshwar focused on enhancing the operational preparedness of ANC. The 29th edition of the Indo-Thai Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) was successfully conducted from 13th to 21st February 2020 during his Command. The Lieutenant General oversaw the re-induction into ANC of FDN-1, the first Floating Dock of the Indian Navy, which has augmented refit and docking capability. The commissioning of the Landing Craft Utility Mk-IV Class ship LCU-57 on 15 May 2020 enhanced the Amphibious Operational capability of India’s only Joint Forces Command.

Under Lieutenant General Rajeshwar’s directions, the personnel and assets of the Command actively coordinated and worked together with the Andaman and Nicobar Administration in dealing with the Corona pandemic and providing succour to the populace across the length and breadth of the islands. INS Kesari, a LST (L) of the ANC Flotilla was successfully deployed for Operation Sagar to provide humanitarian assistance and Covid-19 medical help to IOR nations Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles as a goodwill gesture from the Government and people of India.

For his distinguished service, Lieutenant General Rajeshwar had been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) on 26th January 2020 and appointed as an Honorary Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of India in November 2019.

Lieutenant General Rajeshwar is married to Mrs. Harshita Rajeshwar, who supported him to look after the welfare of the families of personnel of ANC in her role as the President, Defence Wives’ Welfare Association (DWWA) (Regional).