Portion of Helipad Collapses After President Murmu’s Chopper Lands in Kerala’s Rajiv Gandhi Stadium – Full Story & Implications
The Incident: What Happened
On 22
October 2025, during her four-day visit to Kerala, Draupadi Murmu landed at the
Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Pramadam (Pathanamthitta district) aboard an
Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter. The landing, however, turned into a safety
scare when a portion of the helipad sank under the chopper’s wheels.
According
to official sources, the helipad had been freshly constructed, and the concrete
had not fully set. When the chopper touched down, the wheels created
depressions in the surface and part of the tarmac gave way. Visuals show
personnel from the fire and police departments physically helping to pull the
helicopter out.
The
incident occurred moments after touchdown, and fortunately, there were no
injuries. The President was safe and proceeded with her schedule.
Background: The Visit & the Changing Landing Site
President
Murmu had arrived in Kerala on 21 October 2025 evening, starting her four-day
official visit. Her itinerary included a visit to the famed Sabarimala Temple,
located in the foothills of the Sabarimala hills at Pathanamthitta.
Originally, the landing was planned at Nilackal near Pamba, but due to inclement weather, the site was changed at the last moment to the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium at Pramadam.
The helipad at this stadium was reportedly created late on the
previous day (Tuesday) to accommodate the change.
Officials
admitted that because of the late switch, the concrete for the landing pad had
not fully cured — setting time for such heavy load‐bearing surfaces is
critical.
Why the Helipad Collapsed: Underlying Factors
1. Freshly poured concrete
One of
the key factors was that the landing area was newly concreted. The official
reasoning states that the concrete had not fully set or cured, and hence the
surface couldn’t immediately bear the load of the helicopter. The chopper
wheels sank into depressions, leading to local collapse.
2. Last-minute site change
The shift of landing site from Nilackal to Pramadam meant that infrastructure preparations were compressed into a tight window. This limited time for proper drying, compaction, and readiness.
3. Heavy load and surface stress
Helicopters
such as the Mi-17 impose significant point loads on landing zones, especially
when skids or wheels are involved. If the substrate or surfacing is not fully
consolidated, these loads can cause sinking or collapsing. The scenario seems
to match such load stress on a still-weak surface.
4. Quality & oversight considerations
The
incident raises questions about supervision of the construction, curing
protocols of concrete, choice of materials, and quality checks for a landing
pad intended for high-priority use such as a Presidential visit.
Immediate Response & Safety Measures
Following the incident:
- Emergency personnel were quick to act: police and fire‐service staff were seen manually assisting in pulling the chopper out of the depression.
- The President’s schedule proceeded without disruption, indicating that security protocols and contingency plans were in place and effective.
- No injuries or damage to persons were reported, which is a relief.
- The helipad is expected to be inspected and upgraded before future use, given the failure.
Broader Implications & Public Concern
Infrastructure readiness for VIP visits
When a
landing pad for the Head of State fails under landing, it signals potential
systemic gaps in infrastructure readiness. This raises concerns about whether
similar last-minute setups elsewhere might suffer same fate.
Accountability & quality assurance
The
incident calls for scrutiny regarding how such high‐visibility infrastructure
is planned, executed and verified. Did authorities skip adequate curing time?
Were load tests done? Who signed off?
Public trust & perception
For the
citizenry, seeing a helipad collapse during a Presidential landing shakes
confidence in public works and infrastructure standards. The image of the
chopper tilting due to sinking pad does not create a favorable impression for
state competence and governance.
Cost and resource implications
If newly
constructed surfaces fail immediately, that implies wasted resources (money,
materials, labour), and the likelihood of repeat expenditure for repairs or
redesigns.
What Experts Might Recommend
- Adequate curing time for
concrete: A
standard landing pad for a helicopter requires concrete to reach design
strength before heavy loads. Rushing diminishes structural integrity.
- Pre‐load testing and
verification:
Before use, the pad should be tested for the expected helicopter weight
plus dynamic conditions, and any response (settlement, cracking) is
monitored.
- Site selection and early
planning:
The sooner the landing site is finalised, the earlier preparations and
quality assurance can be done. Last-minute changes should be avoided or
managed with full risk assessment.
- Regular inspections for VIP
infrastructure:
Since these are critical assets, routine audits, independent inspections
and maintenance protocols must be in place.
- Transparent accountability: When failures occur, the
agencies responsible should provide clear explanations and remedial action
plans to maintain public confidence.
The President’s Visit: Why It Mattered
President
Murmu’s four-day visit to Kerala had several significant engagements:
- She arrived in Thiruvananthapuram and then proceeded to Pathanamthitta for darshan at Sabarimala.
- She is the first woman President of India to visit the Sabarimala temple.
- The visit also included unveiling key centenary celebrations and other ceremonial functions in the state.
Thus, the
landing mishap during such a high‐profile visit emphasizes how even
well-planned events can be unduly affected by infrastructure glitches.
What We Still Don’t Know & Questions Raised
- Who authorised the helipad construction and what was the time frame?
- Was there a formal safety inspection of the newly laid pad prior to landing?
- What is the exact load rating of the pad and was it matched to the helicopter’s weight?
- Are there similar facilities in the state (or elsewhere) that may have been constructed under similar constraints?
- What will be the corrective actions: repair, redesign, or stricter protocols?
- Will there be a formal inquiry and public report?
These
questions matter because they influence future policy and public infrastructure
confidence.
Concluding Thoughts
The incident at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Pramada is a striking reminder that even the most visible and high-priority operations—such as the landing of a presidential helicopter—are only as strong as the infrastructure behind them.
When a helipad collapses under the weight of a chopper, it is more than just a
technical glitch; it reflects on planning, execution, quality assurance,
governance and public trust.
While it
is fortunate that no one was hurt and the President’s schedule remained on
track, the embarrassment and risk are real. The last-minute change of landing
site, rushed construction, and inadequate curing of concrete suggest a set of
avoidable mistakes. Infrastructure for state ceremonies should not be
improvisational.
Going
forward, officials must ensure that VIP landing pads and other critical
infrastructure meet the highest standards—not just in theory, but in practice.
Detailed inspection, load-testing, timely planning and accountability need to
be core pillars of such preparations. These steps will help avoid repeat
incidents and preserve faith in public works.
At its
core, this episode is a wake-up call: high-visibility events demand
high-visibility standards. In the world of security, infrastructure, and public
service, there is no margin for error.
