Sabarimala: Helicopter Carrying President Droupadi Murmu Gets Stuck On Helipad

Helicopter Carrying President Droupadi Murmu Gets Stuck: On Wednesday, the helicopter carrying President Droupadi Murmu, to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, got stuck at the helipad while landing at Pramadam, near Pathanamthitta, Kerala.

It is to be noted here that President Murmu's chopper made a safe landing at the helipad around 9.05 a.m., but its tyres sank slightly into the newly prepared helipad. However, the President, continued her further journey to Pampa by road.

Officials statement on weather

After the incident, an official statement by the officials were given that stated that work on the helipad at the Pramadam Indoor Stadium were completed just a few hours before the president flight arrived. They stated said that earlier the President was scheduled to arrive at Nilackal, but later due to the weather conditions, a change in plan was done at the last minute. After the incident, the police and rescue operation were started and the team pushed out the stranded helicopter out of the soft surface.

President Murmu on a 4-day official visit to Kerala

As per her official schedule, President Murmu was supposed to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala today. 

The President is currently on a four-day official visit to the southern state, left for Pathanamthitta district. She arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday evening. 

Earlier, TDB president PS Prasanth said that preparation were complete and all arrangements were done as per the National Security Guard (NSG) protocols for the President’s visit to the hill shrine.

He said, “Temple traditions as well as NSG protocols will be followed as part of the President’s visit. There will be high security arrangements, so naturally there will be some restrictions as well (for other pilgrims).”