A minor mishap involving President Droupadi Murmu's helicopter sinking slightly into a freshly laid temporary helipad sparked a political and administrative controversy during her visit to the Sabarimala temple on Wednesday morning. Visuals circulating online showed security personnel and fire service staff manually repositioning the Indian Air Force chopper at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium ground in Pramadom, prompting opposition accusations of negligence and security lapses. The incident unfolded around 8:30 am after the president disembarked safely following a diversion from the original Nilakkal landing site due to inclement weather in the hilly terrain. Despite the optics, officials swiftly clarified that the wheels were embedded less than half an inch into the unset concrete, posing no risk, and the aircraft was nudged to firmer ground at the pilot's behest as a standard precaution before its uneventful takeoff.

The helipad, hastily constructed overnight on a last-minute decision to reroute the flight path, featured concrete poured mere hours prior to the landing, which had not fully cured under the morning humidity. Pathanamthitta District Collector S Prem Krishnan emphasised the negligible depth of the subsidence, attributing it to the helicopter touching down marginally outside the marked 'H' zone on the soft surface. "If there had been any safety concern, the helicopter would not have been cleared for take-off from the same spot later," Krishnan asserted, countering viral clips that amplified the drama. Local MLA K. U. Jenish Kumar, from the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), dismissed claims of foul play, noting the site had undergone rigorous vetting by the National Security Guard (NSG) and other agencies. "This is an area cleared by the NSG... No mishap occurred, and it is unfair to sensationalise the issue," he stated, highlighting the supervised construction that adhered to aviation norms despite the urgency.

Opposition voices, including the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), seized on the footage to lambast the state government for inadequate planning, questioning how a VIP chopper could be grounded on untested turf amid Sabarimala pilgrimage season's logistical strains. The Kerala Police, enforcing security protocols, promptly cleared journalists from the vicinity post-incident, fuelling perceptions of a cover-up. Yet, the president's itinerary remained seamless: after a ceremonial welcome by state dignitaries, she proceeded to the Ayyappa shrine, ascending the 18 holy steps with the sacred Irumudikettu offering before conducting prayers at the sanctum sanctorum. This marked her first visit to the hilltop temple, symbolising interfaith outreach in a state where Hindu devotion intersects with progressive politics.

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The row underscores perennial challenges in Kerala's remote terrains, where monsoon variability and terrain demand swift infrastructure improvisation for high-profile events. With Sabarimala bracing for peak Mandala-Makaravilakku season, attracting millions of pilgrims, such episodes highlight the tightrope between expediency and safety. Authorities have initiated a review of the helipad's execution, while Jenish Kumar urged restraint against politicisation, praising the coordinated response that averted escalation. As visuals fade from social feeds, the focus shifts to the pilgrimage's spiritual fervour, but the incident lingers as a cautionary tale on balancing reverence with reliability in India's federal machinery.

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