Helicopter carrying President Droupadi Murmu gets stuck on helipad during Sabarimala visit

The helicopter ferrying President Droupadi Murmu, who was on her way to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, got stuck at the helipad on landing at Pramadam, near Pathanamthitta, Kerala, on Wednesday (October 22, 2025) morning.

The chopper made a safe touchdown at the newly prepared helipad around 9.05 a.m., but its tyres sank slightly into the freshly laid concrete soon after the President disembarked. The President, however, continued her journey to Pampa by road without any delay.

Adverse weather

According to official sources, work on the helipad at the Pramadam Indoor Stadium had been completed only a few hours before the presidential flight arrived. Initially, the President was scheduled to land at Nilackal, but in consideration of the inclement weather conditions prevailing in the region, the plan was changed at the last minute. The stranded helicopter was later pushed out of the soft surface by the police and fire and rescue services personnel.

At Pampa, instead of taking a dip in the river, the President is set to perform the traditional cleansing ritual by washing her feet. She will then prepare the irumudi in a ceremony at the Ganapathy Temple before proceeding to the Sannidhanam in a Gurkha emergency four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Accompanied by a six-vehicle escort, the President is expected to reach Sannidhanam by around 11.50 a.m., where she will be received with a poornakumbh by the tantri Kandaru Mahesh Mohanaru.

Following this, the President will ascend the 18 holy steps (pathinettampadi) and offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa. After the rituals, she will rest at the Devaswom guest house and return to Pramadam later in the afternoon.

Pilgrims will not be allowed beyond Nilackal until the President completes her visit and departs.