Pathanamthitta, Kerala: President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Kerala experienced a minor disruption on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, when the wheels of her helicopter became slightly stuck in the freshly laid concrete of a temporary helipad. The incident occurred at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium ground in Pramadom, shortly after the President safely disembarked from the aircraft around 8:30 AM.
The helicopter's landing was initially scheduled for Nilakkal, near Pamba, but was rerouted to Pramadom due to adverse weather conditions in the hilly region. As a result, a temporary helipad was hastily prepared at the stadium overnight. Concrete was poured just hours before the President's arrival, leaving the surface not fully set. According to a senior police officer, the stadium's location was finalized at the last minute, leading to the hurried construction of the helipad.
After the President exited the helicopter to proceed to Sabarimala for darshan at the hill shrine, the aircraft's wheels sank slightly into the wet concrete. Visuals showed the helicopter tilting to one side. No immediate danger was reported, and officials confirmed that the President's safety was not compromised.
Quickly responding to the situation, police and fire rescue personnel manually pushed the helicopter to a safer area for takeoff. A video circulating online depicted approximately 30 personnel working together to move the aircraft. Kerala's Director General of Police (DGP), Ravada A. Chandrasekhar, downplayed the incident, asserting that there was no security lapse. He stated that the helicopter landed approximately five feet away from the designated spot, where the surface was still wet.
Despite the incident, President Murmu continued her journey to Pamba, the base of Sabarimala, by road. There, she performed traditional rituals, including washing her feet in the Pampa River and visiting nearby temples. Carrying the sacred 'Irumudi' bundle, she proceeded to Sabarimala to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa Temple, becoming the first woman President of India to do so.
The President's visit to Sabarimala holds symbolic significance, particularly in light of the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling that lifted the ban on women of menstruating age from entering the temple. Her pilgrimage underscores devotion within the bounds of both faith and law.
President Murmu's four-day visit to Kerala, which began on October 21, includes several other engagements. She is scheduled to unveil a bust of former President K.R. Narayanan in Thiruvananthapuram, inaugurate the Mahasamadhi Centenary of Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala, and attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of St. Thomas College in Palai and the centenary celebrations of St. Teresa's College in Ernakulam.
Security has been intensified throughout the state in light of the President's visit. A delegation from the BJP Kerala unit met with President Murmu to discuss public concerns, including the Sabarimala gold theft incident. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan welcomed President Murmu to the state, acknowledging her presence as a great honor.
