Kamya Bhardwaj, a B.Sc. Zoology (Hons) student at Dyal Singh College, Delhi University, has created a new record by completing a non-stop round-trip swim across the Palk Strait. Her achievement highlights exceptional endurance, determination, and resilience in the face of challenges, setbacks, and fatigue.

She swam from Dhanushkodi to Talaimannar and back, finishing the demanding journey in 18 hours and 15 minutes. This surpasses the previous record of 19 hours and 20 minutes held by Sujitha DevVarman. The expedition was organised by the Open Water Swimming Academy in Theni, Tamil Nadu.

The swim began at 1:30 PM on April 12 from Arichalmunai, in notoriously unpredictable waters. Along the way, Kamya encountered rough tides, strong opposing currents, and repeated jellyfish stings. Despite these difficulties, she reached Talaimannar at 10:35 PM and immediately began her return journey, swimming through the night.

She completed the return leg and reached Arichalmunai at 7:45 AM on April 13, where she was warmly welcomed by supporters and officials. The record was officially verified by observers from the Swimming Federation of India, Dr. Vijayakumar and M. Jayakumar. In a similar feat, in 2025, Jiya Rai, a 17-year-old swimmer with autism spectrum disorder, became the first female para-swimmer to cross the Catalina Channel near Los Angeles, covering 34 km in just over 15 hours.