President Murmu’s chopper sinks as newly built helipad caves in Kerala's Rajiv Gandhi Stadium

A portion of a newly constructed helipad at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district collapsed after President Droupadi Murmu’s helicopter landed there. The President was returning from her visit to the Sabarimala temple when the incident occurred.

According to officials, the surface of the helipad partially caved in moments after the helicopter touched down, causing one of the wheels to sink into the concrete. Police and fire service personnel immediately rushed to the spot and manually pulled the helicopter out. Visuals from the scene showed the aircraft slightly tilted to one side as officials worked to stabilise it.

Authorities said the helipad was constructed at the last moment late on Tuesday after a change in landing plans due to bad weather at Nilackal near Pamba. Since the concrete had not set properly, it could not bear the weight of the helicopter. The incident caused no injuries or major damage, but raised concerns over last-minute safety arrangements.

President Murmu later proceeded with her scheduled programmes in Kerala. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan welcomed her visit, calling it “a great honour for the state and its people.”