New Delhi – A brief scare unfolded on Wednesday during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Kerala when a section of the helipad tarmac at Pramadam Stadium in Pathanamthitta district partially sank after her helicopter landed, officials confirmed.
Helipad surface caves in after touchdown
The incident occurred shortly after the President’s helicopter touched down at the stadium, part of her four-day official visit to Kerala that began on October 21. According to reports from PTI, the helipad surface caved in moments after landing, prompting an immediate safety response.
Police and fire service personnel manually pushed the helicopter away from the affected area to prevent further sinking. No injuries or damage to the aircraft were reported, and the President continued with her scheduled engagements without interruption.
Quick response ensured President’s safety
Officials at the site said the ground beneath the tarmac appeared to give way due to weak soil or recent rainfall, which may have caused the partial collapse. The District Collector has ordered an inquiry into the construction and maintenance of the temporary helipad.
Authorities confirmed that President Murmu was never in danger, and her security detail swiftly secured the perimeter while inspection teams assessed the helipad’s stability.
Murmu’s official engagements in Kerala
President Murmu’s Kerala visit began on October 21 and is scheduled to conclude on October 24. She arrived at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on Tuesday, where she received a ceremonial welcome from top state officials.
“Governor of Kerala Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Union Minister George Kurian received President Droupadi Murmu on her arrival,” stated an official post on the President’s X (formerly Twitter) account.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan also wrote, “Warmly welcomed Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, on her visit to Kerala. Her presence is a great honour for the State and our people.”
Visits to Sabarimala and Raj Bhavan events
As part of her itinerary, the President is scheduled to offer prayers at the Sabarimala Temple on October 22. The following day, she will unveil a bust of former President K.R. Narayanan at Raj Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram, and inaugurate the Mahasamadhi Centenary observance of Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala.
She is also set to attend the valedictory function of St. Thomas College’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Palai and the centenary celebrations of St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam, on October 24.
BJP delegation meets President
During her stay at Raj Bhavan, a BJP delegation led by Kerala party president Rajeev Chandrasekhar called on President Murmu to discuss key state concerns, including the Sabarimala gold theft case and public safety issues.
According to a party release, the delegation also appreciated the President’s continued engagement with southern states and her efforts to promote women’s empowerment and education.
Investigation into helipad incident
Local authorities in Pathanamthitta have begun a technical review to determine the reason behind the helipad’s partial collapse. Preliminary findings suggest possible subsoil weakness or improper compaction of the surface layer used in constructing the temporary landing pad.
District officials said the Indian Air Force and Kerala Public Works Department engineers will jointly submit a report to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The President’s schedule remains unchanged, and all future landings in Kerala will reportedly take place at pre-certified helipads until the cause of Wednesday’s incident is fully established.