How did helipad collapse shortly after landing of President Droupadi Murmu’s helicopter in Kerala?

Shortly after President Droupadi Murmu’s helicopter touched down in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, on Wednesday morning, a section of the helipad collapsed, requiring police officers and other staff to push the wheels of the helicopter out of the damaged area. On her way to Sabarimala, President Droupadi Murmu had landed at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Pramadam, Pathanamthitta.

According to a senior district police officer, the helipad was constructed at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium late on Tuesday after the decision to land President Murmu’s chopper there was taken at the last minute.

Due to bad weather, the landing was rescheduled from Nilackal, which is close to Pamba, to Pramadam. The concrete of the helipad at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium had not set as it was built overnight, the officer said.

“The concrete had not set completely and therefore, it could not handle the helicopter’s weight when it landed and depressions were formed where the wheels touched the ground,” PTI quoted the officer.

Following the President’s road trip to Pamba, a number of police officers and firefighters were observed pulling the wheels of the helicopter out of the tiny indentations made when it touched down on the pavement.

On Tuesday night, the President arrived in Thiruvananthapuram for her official four-day visit to Kerala. On Wednesday morning, she set out for the region of Pathanamthitta, which is home to the hill shrine of Sabarimala.

Murmu drove from Pramadam to Pamba, which is in the foothills of Sabarimala.