President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, President’s helicopter got temporarily stuck on the helipad at Pramadam, near Pathanamthitta, Kerala. The chopper safely touched down at the newly constructed helipad around 9:05 a.m., but its tyres sank slightly into the freshly laid concrete after the President disembarked. Undeterred, she continued her journey to Pampa by road without delay. Officials noted that the helipad at the Pramadam Indoor Stadium had been completed only a few hours before the President’s arrival. Originally, she was scheduled to land at Nilackal, but inclement weather prompted a last-minute change. Police and Fire & Rescue personnel later freed the stranded helicopter from the soft surface. At Pampa, instead of taking a river dip, the President performed the traditional cleansing ritual by washing her feet. She then prepared the irumudi at the Ganapathy temple before proceeding to Sannidhanam in a Gurkha emergency four-wheel-drive vehicle. Accompanied by a six-vehicle escort, she is expected to reach Sannidhanam by 11:50 a.m., where Tantri Kandaru Mahesh Mohanaru will receive her with a poornakumbh ceremony. The President will then ascend the 18 holy steps (pathinettampadi) to offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa, rest at the Devaswom guest house, and return to Pramadam later in the afternoon. Pilgrims will not be allowed beyond Nilackal until her visit concludes and she departs.
