President Droupadi Murmu’s Helicopter Sinks Slightly on Concrete Helipad in Pathanamthitta

Pathanamthitta, October 22: A minor incident occurred in Pathanamthitta on Tuesday when the helicopter carrying President Droupadi Murmu sank slightly on a freshly laid concrete helipad at the Pramadom Ground. The helicopter had landed safely, but the surface gave way under its weight due to the concrete not being fully set.

Police personnel and fire and rescue officials quickly reached the spot and helped reposition the aircraft. According to officials, the helipad had been concreted only earlier in the day, and the surface had not yet hardened adequately to support the helicopter’s landing.

Initially, the President’s helicopter was scheduled to land at Nilakkal, but the plan was later changed to Pramadom. The President arrived in Pathanamthitta as part of her visit to Sabarimala, where she is scheduled to offer prayers at the shrine.

Ahead of her visit, security personnel conducted a trial run for the President’s journey from Pampa to the Sannidhanam in a specially equipped four-wheel-drive Gurkha emergency vehicle. The President is expected to reach the Sannidhanam at 11:50 a.m., where she will be received with poornakumbha honours by Thantri Kandar Mahesh Mohanar near the temple’s flagstaff.

After the darshan, President Murmu will rest at the Sannidhanam Guest House until 12:20 p.m., following which she will return to Thiruvananthapuram by helicopter later in the evening.

Later tonight, the President will attend a dinner hosted by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan at the Raj Bhavan.

In view of the President’s visit, strict security and crowd-control measures have been implemented at Sabarimala. Pilgrims will not be allowed beyond Nilakkal until the President completes her temple visit and departs from the area.

President Murmu is scheduled to return to New Delhi on October 24.