Portion of Newly Built Helipad Collapses as President Droupadi Murmu’s Helicopter Lands in Kerala

A section of a newly constructed concrete helipad collapsed on Wednesday when the helicopter carrying President Droupadi Murmu landed at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, following her visit to Sabarimala.

Officials said the helipad was chosen at the last moment, and the concrete had not fully set, making it unable to support the helicopter’s weight. The stadium had been selected for the landing late on Tuesday, prompting hurried construction, according to a senior district police officer quoted by PTI.

Incident Details

Visuals showed the helicopter tilting to one side, with police and fire personnel rushing to pull it out. After combined efforts, the aircraft was safely removed from the depression that formed on the helipad.

Originally, the landing was planned at Nilackal near Pamba, but inclement weather forced a change to Pramadam, leading to the last-minute construction. The partial collapse occurred moments after touchdown due to the concrete being freshly poured and not fully set.

Presidential Visit

President Murmu had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday evening for a four-day visit to Kerala and proceeded to Pathanamthitta district, where she is scheduled to perform darshan and aarti at Sabarimala Temple on October 22.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan welcomed the President on X, stating:
“Warmly welcomed Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, on her visit to Kerala. Her presence was a great honour for the State and our people.”