VIDEO: Helicopter's Wheels Carrying President Murmu Sinks Into Newly Concreted Landing Pad in Kerala
Times Now
A portion of the newly concreted helipad tarmac in Kerala's Pramadam sank following a helicopter landing on Wednesday, October 22. The helicopter was carrying President Droupadi Murmu for her Sabrimala
visit. The wheels of the helicopter got stuck in a depression in the newly concreted helipad at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium at Pramadam at Pathanamthitta, Kerala, following its landing. A video shared by news agency ANI on X showed several policemen and fire force personnel pushing the helicopter's wheels out of the small depressions created when it landed on the concrete.
The President left for Pamba by road, reported PTI. President Murmu's landing was originally planned at Nilackal near Pamba, but it was changed to Pramadam due to inclement weather. Pamba is the foothills of Sabarimala. The Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium at Pramadam was finalised for the landing at the last moment, and the helipad was created late on Tuesday, a police official told news agency PTI. "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," the officer said.
President Murmu on 4-Day Kerala Visit
President Droupadi Murmu is currently on a four-day visit to Kerala. She arrived in Thiruvananthapuram and was welcomed at the international airport by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, other people's representatives, and senior officials.According to the schedule, President Murmu will visit the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala for 'darshan' and 'aarti' on Wednesday. She will return to Thiruvananthapuram the same day. On Thursday, she will unveil a bust of former President K R Narayanan at the Raj Bhavan.Later, she will inaugurate the Mahasamadhi Centenary celebrations of Sree Narayana Guru at the Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala and attend the valedictory function of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of St Thomas College in Pala, Kottayam district.President Murmu will conclude her Kerala visit on October 24 by attending the centenary celebrations of St Teresa's College in Ernakulam.Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the state capital and other districts for President's visit. (With inputs from ANI, PTI)