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President Murmu Completes Sabarimala Darshan After Helipad Mishap in Kerala

A last-minute switch from Nilakkal to a hastily prepared Pramadam helipad during bad weather left the chopper’s wheels sunk in uncured concrete.

Overview

  • The helicopter landed safely at Pramadam around 9 a.m., where its tyres sank into a newly poured helipad; police and fire personnel manually freed the aircraft with no injuries reported.
  • Murmu continued by road to Pamba, performed customary cleansing and irumudikettu rituals, ascended to Sannidhanam, and offered darshan and aarti at the Ayyappa shrine.
  • Officials attributed the helipad failure to concrete that had not fully set after the landing site was changed from Nilakkal due to inclement weather.
  • Pilgrim access beyond Nilakkal was temporarily halted during the VVIP movement, with multi-layered security involving the SPG, Kerala Police and central agencies.
  • Her four-day Kerala itinerary continues with scheduled events including unveiling a K. R. Narayanan bust at Raj Bhavan, the Sivagiri Mahasamadhi centenary, and college centenaries in Pala and Ernakulam.