Murmu Lands Safely Despite Helicopter Glitch at Kerala Helipad

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Thiruvananthapuram
• Oct 22, 2025
• 13

President Droupadi Murmu, en route to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, faced a minor hiccup on Wednesday morning when her helicopter got stuck at the newly prepared helipad at Pramadam, near Pathanamthitta, Kerala. The chopper landed safely around 9:05 a.m., but its tyres sank slightly into the freshly laid concrete shortly after the President disembarked.

Undeterred, President Murmu continued her journey to Pampa by road without delay. According to officials, the Pramadam Indoor Stadium helipad had been completed only a few hours before the flight’s arrival. The President’s original landing was planned at Nilackal, but adverse weather conditions necessitated a last-minute change. The helicopter was later freed from the soft surface with assistance from police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel.

At Pampa, instead of a river dip, the President will perform the traditional cleansing ritual by washing her feet, prepare the irumudi at the Ganapathy temple, and then proceed to the Sannidhanam in a Gurkha emergency four-wheel-drive vehicle. Accompanied by a six-vehicle escort, she is expected to reach Sannidhanam by 11:50 a.m., where she will be received with a poornakumbh by tantri Kandaru Mahesh Mohanaru.

Following the rituals, President Murmu will ascend the 18 holy steps (pathinettampadi) to offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa. She will then rest at the Devaswom guest house before returning to Pramadam later in the afternoon. Pilgrims will not be allowed beyond Nilackal until the President completes her visit and departs.