An Indian Coast Guard helicopter was spotted flying unusually low over the sacred Sabarimala Temple in Pathanamthitta district on Thursday prompting a probe on the issue of security breaches. The temple falls under the high-security zone, which is situated in the thick forests of the Periyar Tiger Reserve in which the movement air is strictly controlled.
Reportedly, the CG 821 Chetak helicopter was filmed by the staff of the temple flying only meters above the flagmast of the temple at around 1:15 pm. The images soon raised a panic among both the government and the pilgrims, as there are strict regulations on the airspace surrounding the shrine.
The officials of the Coast Guard explained that the helicopter involved in the accident was conducting a routine sortie training off Kochi when it lost its way because of the weather conditions such as low cloud cover and poor visibility. The plane allegedly lost track over the Pampa hills, before safely landing back at base when the weather cleared up.
The Special Commissioner of Sabarimala, after the incident ordered the ADGP in charge of temple security, S Sreejith, to carry out an in-depth investigation and provide a report. In the meantime, the police of Pampa have filed an FIR on the grounds of the Kerala Police Act, with a grave violation of the peace of the people.
Governments stressed that any aerial operations in the area require prior clearance. The probe will now identify the violation of protocols and whether additional measures are necessary.