President Murmu’s helicopter sinks slightly during landing
President Murmu’s helicopter was initially scheduled to land at Nilackal near Pamba, but poor weather conditions forced a last-minute change, prompting the pilot to divert and land safely at Pramadam instead, ensuring everyone’s safety and comfort.
President Murmu’s Helicopter Wheels Sink Slightly into Fresh Helipad Concrete in Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta: In a brief moment of concern during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Sabarimala on Wednesday morning, the wheels of her helicopter sank slightly into the surface of a newly. The incident occurred shortly after the chopper touched down, but officials quickly confirmed that there was no danger and that the President’s journey continued safely as planned.
The helicopter, carrying President Murmu and her entourage, landed at the stadium around mid-morning. As it touched down, the wheels pressed into a small depression in the freshly concreted surface of the helipad. The concrete, which had been laid just hours earlier, had not yet fully set, leading to the minor mishap.
After the President disembarked and proceeded by road to Pamba — the base station for pilgrims heading to the Sabarimala temple — visuals aired on several television channels showed police and fire department personnel working together to free the helicopter’s wheels from the soft concrete. They could be seen carefully pushing and guiding the aircraft’s wheels until it was moved safely off the affected area.
A senior police officer from Pathanamthitta explained that the stadium had been chosen as the landing site at the last minute. However, due to bad weather, we had to quickly shift the landing to Pramadam,” the officer said. “The helipad was freshly constructed late on Tuesday, and the concrete hadn’t completely hardened, which caused the depressions when the helicopter’s weight settled on it.”
Officials emphasized that the situation was handled swiftly and that the President’s travel schedule remained unaffected.
President Murmu had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday evening for a four-day official visit to Kerala, with her itinerary including a trip to the revered Sabarimala temple. From Pramadam, she continued her journey to Pamba by road amid tight security and warm greetings from locals who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the visiting head of state.