An investigation was ordered after an Indian Coast Guard helicopter was seen flying low over the Sabarimala temple, considered a special security zone, in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala on Thursday.
Pictures taken by a Sabarimala temple staff showed the CG 821 Chetak helicopter flying a few meters above the mast of the temple, located in the middle of the dense forests of Periyar Tiger Reserve, around 1.15 pm on Thursday.
The CG 821 helicopter, which was on a routine training sortie from Kochi, ended up flying over the temple and hills in Pampa due to “high clouds and deteriorating weather” in the area, Indian Coast Guard officials said.
“At around 1.15 pm, due to high clouds and deteriorating weather in the area, the plane deviated from the intended path and ended up flying over the Pampa Hills. After clear weather, the plane returned to its base in Kochi,” an official said.
Special Commissioner (Sabarimala) has directed Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) S Sreejith, who oversees law and order at the Sabarimala temple, to investigate the incident and submit a report, officials familiar with the matter said.
The Pampa Police registered an FIR over the incident, citing Section 118 (e) (gross breach of public order) of the Kerala Police Act, and initiated an investigation.
“Since Sabarimala is in a special security zone, no movement of air vehicles is allowed without prior permission. Also, such movement is not usually seen. We are investigating what happened,” a senior officer at the station told HT.
