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Diplomatic tensions between India and the Maldives have escalated in recent weeks, with the latest incident involving the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy due to a delayed medical evacuation. The deteriorating relations took a distressing turn after a Maldivian Minister’s social media post disparaging Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Lakshadweep Islands visit. Amidst this ongoing India-Maldives row, the death of the young boy has further strained the diplomatic ties.
The unfortunate incident unfolded when the teenager, battling brain tumor and a stroke, urgently needed an air ambulance for advanced medical care from Wilmington in Gaaf Alif Villingili to Male, the capital of the Maldives. Despite the family’s desperate requests for an aerial transfer, the calls to aviation authorities reportedly went unanswered for an entire night, resulting in a sixteen-hour delay. Tragically, the young boy lost his life during this critical period.
The father of the deceased boy spoke to Adhahu, a local media outlet, expressing frustration over the lack of response from Island Aviation, the company responsible for medical evacuations. The father emphasized the need for air ambulances in such cases and recounted the heartbreaking sequence of events leading to his son’s demise. The boy was eventually transferred to Male, where he was admitted to the ICU but, unfortunately, could not survive.
Aasandha Company Limited, responsible for medical evacuations, issued a statement acknowledging the promptness of the evacuation process but citing a last-minute technical glitch as the cause of the delay. The company expressed condolences for the boy’s death and urged the media and the public to consider the sensitivities of the family before disseminating information.
Concerns have been raised about the role of the India-Maldives row in the tragic incident, as the Dornier Aircraft, primarily used for humanitarian causes in the Maldives, is produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India. Reports suggest that the President’s denial of permission to use this aircraft may have contributed to the untimely death of the child. Maldives MP Meekail Naseem, addressing the issue on social media, stated, “People should not have to pay with their lives to satisfy the President’s animosity towards India.” The incident underscores the need for diplomatic resolution and cooperation in critical humanitarian matters between the two nations.
