A portion of a newly concreted helipad tarmac in Pramadam, Kerala, partially sank on Wednesday after the helicopter carrying President Droupadi Murmu landed during her visit to the Sabarimala temple.
The incident occurred at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium helipad, where the Indian Air Force’s Mi-17 chopper touched down. Moments later, a small depression formed under the wheels, prompting immediate action by police and fire personnel.
#WATCH | Kerala: A portion of the helipad tarmac sank in after a chopper carrying President Droupdi Murmu landed at Pramadam Stadium. Police and fire department personnel deployed at the spot physically pushed the helicopter out of the sunken spot. pic.twitter.com/QDmf28PqIb
— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2025
Visuals shared by the ANI showed officials physically pushing the helicopter out of the sunken area after President Murmu departed for Pamba by road.
“The concrete had not set completely and therefore could not handle the helicopter’s weight when it landed,” a senior police officer told reporters.
Last-Minute Change Led to Weak Tarmac
According to officials, Pramadam was selected at the last minute as the landing site after bad weather at Nilackal forced the change. The helipad was constructed hastily on Tuesday night, just hours before the President’s arrival.
While the incident did not pose any risk to the President or crew, it raised concerns about infrastructure readiness and safety during VIP movements.
President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday evening for a four-day official tour of Kerala.
On Wednesday, she is scheduled to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala, becoming the first woman head of state to visit the shrine. She is also the second Indian president after V.V. Giri in the 1970s to visit Sabarimala.
“It is a historic and spiritually significant moment for Kerala and for devotees of Lord Ayyappa,” a temple official said.
Other Engagements During the Kerala Visit
After returning from Sabarimala on Wednesday evening, President Murmu will participate in several high-profile events:
Thursday: Unveil the bust of former President K.R. Narayanan at the Raj Bhavan.
Thursday evening: Inaugurate the Mahasamadhi Centenary celebrations of Sree Narayana Guru at the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala.
Friday: Attend the valedictory function of St Thomas College’s Platinum Jubilee in Pala, Kottayam.
Saturday (Oct 24): Conclude her tour by attending the centenary celebrations of St Teresa’s College, Ernakulam.
