President's chopper scare: Last-minute changes add to confusion; intelligence report ignored

Kottayam, Kerala: The wheels of President Droupadi Murmu’s helicopter sank into freshly laid concrete at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Pramadam on Wednesday morning, despite elaborate security arrangements for her visit to the Sabarimala temple.

The incident happened shortly after the President disembarked the helicopter. Following the incident, the President was escorted to Sabarimala by car. Nearly 30 police and fire force personnel were seen pushing the helicopter to move it from the spot. The visuals of the episode, which surfaced later, revealed a major security lapse.

The authorities have indicated that an inquiry and action may follow. Police have since restricted media access to the site, maintaining a security cordon around the area.

Protocol breach raises questions

As per standard protocol, the President’s itinerary and alternate landing plans—Plan A and Plan B—are prepared in advance. Initially, the helicopter was scheduled to land at Nilakkal, with Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium at Pramadam as the backup site. Security drills had already been conducted at both locations. However, heavy rain and poor weather conditions led to the last-minute shift from Nilakkal to Pramadam.

According to reports, the state intelligence unit had issued a clear warning against landing on freshly laid concrete, stating that the surface had not set properly and could pose a risk of the wheels sinking.

The intelligence report noted that concrete work at the helipad had been completed only hours before the landing, less than 12 hours earlier, leaving it soft and unstable. This was done as part of the request by the pilots. The report recommended shifting the landing spot by five feet to a firmer area, but the helicopter ultimately landed on the same concrete surface.

Last-minute decision and confusion

Initially, plans were made to transport the President by road from Thiruvananthapuram to Pampa. The state police had been deployed accordingly. However, at around 6 am, the President’s Secretariat changed the plan again, deciding to proceed with a helicopter landing at Pathanamthitta.