A portion of a newly constructed helipad caved in on Wednesday after the wheels of President Droupadi Murmu’s helicopter sank into the surface upon landing at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Pathanamthitta. The incident occurred shortly after the President's visit to the Sabarimala temple.
According to officials, the helipad had been constructed hastily on Tuesday night after a last-minute change in the landing site. The concrete had not fully cured, making it unable to bear the weight of the helicopter.
A senior police officer from the district stated that the helipad was a late addition. “The Rajiv Gandhi Stadium was chosen at the last moment, and the helipad was built there overnight. The concrete had not set properly, which led to the surface giving way when the helicopter landed.”
Eyewitnesses and visual footage from the scene showed the helicopter tilting to one side as personnel from the police and fire departments rushed to stabilise it. The aircraft was eventually pulled free after a coordinated effort by emergency services and local staff. “The surface of the helipad partially collapsed the moment the chopper touched down,” an official at the site confirmed.
Originally, the President’s helicopter was scheduled to land at Nilackal, near Pamba, but poor weather forced authorities to change the location to Pramadam in Pathanamthitta district. This abrupt shift necessitated the overnight construction of the helipad.
President Murmu had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday evening at the start of a four-day visit to Kerala. Welcoming the President to the state, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said,“Warmly welcomed Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, on her visit to Kerala. Her presence was a great honour for the State and our people.”
