The thunder of the Enfield bikes became louder at the gate and was soon lost to the observers standing outside the low-lying open ground surrounding the auditorium. Among the observers stood the GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi and his wife, a host of Who's Who of the Command and their wives. They were witness to the motorcycle expedition of the Corps of Military Police, part of its diamond jubilee celebration and fifth reunion.

The expedition of 16 CMP JCOs and NCOs astride eight Enfield 500 cc bikes, started in Bangalore on October 19. The men will traverse a distance of 15,000 km, covering all the states. It will culminate in Delhi on January 14, coinciding with the Army Day Parade to mark the stepping of the Indian Army into the 21st century.

Speaking to the press after the flagging-off of the expedition, Lt Gen Oberoi said these types of expeditions test the training the men undergo and also fill the life with adventure. Subedar R.K. Gopalan, the expedition head, said: "We want to experience the different facets of Indian life and so far, it has been a delightful experience. People are more receptive, particularly in the villages, when they come to know that we are from the forces. They want to know more about us. We'll cover the distance in 85 days with 20 days' halts."

Naib Subedar Bodh Raj added that the distance will be covered at an average rate of 60 kmph and every bike has a 40-kg pack that includes spares for the vehicles, some clothes and articles of personal use. "After this trip, we're confident we'll be able to go anywhere and the knowledge of the machines (bikes) we have gathered will be good for us in future," says the Naib Subedar from UP. The expedition left for Bareilly, their next destination.

On the occasion, the GOC-in-C's wife, Daulat Oberoi, donated a truck-full of relief material to Station Commander Brig Sunil K. Sinha, for the Orissa cyclone-hit victims too, on behalf of the Army Wives Welfare Association, Western Command. Daulat Oberoi is the president of AWWA, WC. The Army personnel and their wives at the Chandimandir station donated materials like clothes, shirts and blankets for the cyclone victims.

Members of the Government House Residents' Welfare Association of Sector 43-A have donated 10 bags of old clothes and chappals for distribution to the cyclone-affected people in Orissa. The association general-secretary promised UT Deputy Commissioner M. Ramsekhar to donate more if the need arises.