President Murmu's Helicopter Causes Helipad Collapse During Historic Sabarimala Temple Visit in Kerala

President Droupadi Murmu was en route to Sabarimala temple when an unexpected incident occurred at her landing site.

In Thiruvananthapuram, a section of the newly constructed helipad tarmac at Kerala's Pramadam collapsed under the weight of President Droupadi Murmu's helicopter during her Wednesday visit to the Sabarimala temple.

Following President Murmu's departure for Pamba, the foothills of Sabarimala, via road, numerous police officers and fire service personnel were observed assisting in pushing the wheels of the Indian Air Force's Mi-17 helicopter out of the small depressions that formed at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

The incident at Kerala showed a portion of the helipad tarmac sinking after President Droupdi Murmu's chopper landed at Pramadam Stadium. Police and fire department personnel at the site physically maneuvered the helicopter away from the sunken area.

A senior police officer explained that Pramadam was designated as the landing location at the last minute, with the helipad being constructed there late Tuesday evening.

The original landing had been scheduled for Nilackal near Pamba but was relocated to Pramadam due to unfavorable weather conditions.

"The concrete hadn't fully set, and consequently, it couldn't support the helicopter's weight during landing, causing depressions where the wheels made contact with the ground," the officer explained.

The President arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday evening, beginning a four-day official visit to Kerala.

President Murmu was scheduled to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala on Wednesday.

She makes history as the first female head of state to visit the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala for worship. She is also only the second president to visit this sacred site, following former president VV Giri, who visited Sabarimala in the 1970s.

After her Sabarimala darshan, the President will return to Thiruvananthapuram in the evening. On Thursday, she will unveil a bust of former President KR Narayanan at the Raj Bhavan.

Later, she will inaugurate the Mahasamadhi Centenary celebrations of Sree Narayana Guru at the Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala and attend the valedictory function of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of St Thomas College in Pala, Kottayam district.

President Murmu will conclude her Kerala visit on October 24 by attending the centenary celebrations of St Teresa's College in Ernakulam.