A small accident was witnessed in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district on Wednesday when part of a recently constructed helipad at Pramadam collapsed just seconds after President Droupadi Murmu's helicopter landed. The President was en route to the Sabarimala temple as part of her ongoing tour of the state.
Authorities explained that the President's helicopter was initially meant to land at Nilackal, close to Pamba, but bad weather prompted a last-minute shift. Pramadam was selected late in the evening of Tuesday, and an overnight helipad was hastily laid to make way for the landing.
The concrete surface, however, had not fully hardened when the Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter landed, leading portions of the tarmac to collapse under its weight.
Rescue efforts after landing
After the President departed by road to Pamba, the police and firemen were also spotted working together to shift the chopper. The tyres of the aircraft had sunk into the softening concrete, and officials had to push them out of the tiny depressions on the ground.
A high-ranking police officer confirmed that the failure to fully cure the concrete was responsible for the incident. Another officer said, "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", NDTV reported.
Mamata Banerjee reacts, seeks President's well-being
CM Mamata Banerjee expressed relief that no harm came to the President. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “Thank God that our President Droupadi Murmu ji could avert a major accident today morning during her visit to Kerala. Pray for her long and healthy life.”
President Murmu is visiting the Sabarimala temple during her stay, making her the first woman president to visit the Lord Ayyappa shrine at the temple. Following her visit to Pamba, she will proceed with other programmes on the agenda in the state before departing for Thiruvananthapuram.
