President Droupadi Murmu’s official pilgrimage to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Swamy temple saw a brief disruption on Wednesday morning after the helicopter ferrying her got stuck shortly after landing on a temporary helipad at Pramadam in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district.
The Presidential helicopter touched down safely at 9:05 am near Sabarimala, but the wheels of the aircraft partially sank into the soft concrete surface soon after landing. The helipad had reportedly been completed only hours before her arrival.
Despite the incident, President Murmu exited the aircraft safely and continued her journey to Pampa by road without any disruption to her itinerary.
Weather forces last-minute change in plan
The authorities had originally scheduled the President to land at Nilakkal. However, due to adverse weather conditions, they shifted the landing site to Pramadam at the last minute.
According to district administration sources, the recent rain made the ground unstable. The temporary helipad at Pramadam Indoor Stadium, which was prepared urgently, had not fully set. Fire and Rescue teams, along with local police personnel, manually maneuvered the chopper to firmer ground.
President proceeds to Sabarimala as scheduled
Following her arrival at Pampa, President Murmu will perform the traditional cleansing ritual, choosing to wash her feet rather than bathe in the Pampa River due to security constraints. She will then perform the sacred Irumudi Kettu ritual at the Pampa Ganapathi temple in a ceremony.
From there, she will begin her journey to the Sannidhanam, the holy shrine of Lord Ayyappa, in a specially arranged Gurkha 4×4 emergency vehicle.
At the temple, Tantri Kandaru Mahesh will welcome President Murmu with Purnakumbham. The President will climb the 18 sacred steps (Pathinettam Padi) and offer prayers at the sanctum sanctorum.
Heavy security, movement restrictions for pilgrims
The temple officials temporarily suspended pilgrim entry beyond Nilakkal in view of the President’s visit. The Kerala Police, Rapid Action Force, and intelligence teams coordinated security along the Sabarimala route.
“Security arrangements are as per protocol for a visiting head of state. We have ensured minimal inconvenience to devotees,” said a Devaswom Board official. Security personnel conducted drone surveillance, performed bomb squad checks, and sanitised the route ahead of her arrival.
Part of Kerala trip
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Union Minister George Kurian welcomed President Murmu when she arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday evening. Her visit to Sabarimala marks the first pilgrimage by an Indian President to the hill shrine.
