A last-minute change in the landing site due to bad weather caused an unexpected issue for President Droupadi Murmu helicopter. The aircraft sank into a newly laid helipad that could not support its weight.
The incident took place on Wednesday morning at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Pramadam, where the Indian Air Force’s Mi-17 helicopter landed. Authorities quickly built the concrete pad late Tuesday after moving the landing site from Nilackal, close to the Pamba base of the Sabarimala hill shrine, to avoid poor conditions. However, the surface had not fully set, leading to shallow impressions where the chopper’s wheels settled.
Droupadi Murmu create History
After President Murmu got off and traveled by road convoy to Pamba for her journey to the temple, local policemen and fire force members jumped in to help. They manually moved the helicopter free from the depressions to keep the president’s schedule on track.
A senior police officer said the subsidence happened because the material hadn’t hardened completely, adding, “The concrete not set completely, so it couldn’t handle the helicopter’s weight when it landed. It cause depressions where the wheels touched the ground.”
Honoring K.R. Narayanan, Sree Narayana Guru, and Kerala’s Educational Heritage
After the darshan, the president was scheduled to return to Thiruvananthapuram by evening. Her schedule for Thursday includes unveiling a bust honoring former President K.R. Narayanan at Raj Bhavan. Droupadi Murmu also launch the Mahasamadhi Centenary observances of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala. It conclude the day with a speech at the Platinum Jubilee finale of St. Thomas College in Pala, Kottayam district.
Murmu’s tour end on October 24 with her participation in the centenary celebrations of St. Teresa’s College in Ernakulam. It highlights her involvement with Kerala’s cultural and educational landmarks.
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