A major security lapse occurred during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Kerala on Wednesday morning. The Indian Air Force helicopter carrying the President for her Sabarimala pilgrimage got stuck after landing on a newly built concrete helipad at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium at Pramadam. The incident took place when the helicopter’s wheels sank into a soft patch of concrete that had not fully dried.
Helipad Was Not Fully Set
After the President disembarked, her convoy proceeded towards Pamba by road. Meanwhile, police personnel and fire service officials were seen pushing the helicopter’s wheels out of the sunken concrete.
A senior police official revealed that the landing site was finalized at the last minute, and the helipad was constructed overnight on Tuesday. Because it hadn’t dried completely, it couldn’t withstand the weight of the helicopter, causing it to sink upon landing. Fortunately, no one was injured and there was no damage to the aircraft.
The officer added that the original landing was planned at Nilackal near Pamba, but due to bad weather, the landing was diverted to Pramadam. “The concrete had not set completely and therefore, it could not handle the helicopter's weight when it landed and depressions were formed where the wheels touched the ground,” the officer explained.
President Murmu arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday evening for a four-day official visit to the southern state. On Wednesday morning, she left for Pathanamthitta district to offer prayers at the Sabarimala Temple.
