A probe has been ordered after an Indian Coast Guard chopper was seen flying low over the Sabarimala temple in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district on Thursday.
Visuals taken by temple staff showed the CG 821 Chetak helicopter flying just metres above the flagmast of the temple, located in the middle of the dense forests of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
Indian Coast Guard officials said the helicopter, on a routine training sortie from Kochi, deviated from its intended track due to high clouds and deteriorated weather in the area.
The Special Commissioner (Sabarimala) has ordered an investigation into the incident and the Pampa police has registered an FIR over the incident, invoking Section 118(E) of the Kerala Police Act.
