A teenager has died in Maldives after President Mohammed Muizzu denied approval to use India’s Dornier aircraft for airlift, as per Maldivian media.
The incident happened on Saturday amid strained diplomatic ties between India and Maldives following President Muizzu victory in the recent Maldivian elections.
Also, three Maldivian ministers made derogatory comments against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The trio had inferred that PM Modi is showcasing Lakshadweep as an alternative tourist destination to Maldives, after he shared the stunning pictures of his trip to the archipelago.
Pro-Chinese Muizzu has urged India to vacate its defence forces from the island nation until March 15.
The country’s local media said the deceased boy had a brain tumour and suffered a stroke.
The deceased boy’s family had requested an air ambulance to transport him from his home in Gaaf Alif Villingili to the capital city, Male, as his condition became critical.
According to Maldivian media, the family alleges that the authorities failed to arrange medical evacuation promptly.
"We called Island Aviation to get him to Male' immediately after the stroke but they did not answer our calls. They answered the phone at 8:30 am on Thursday. The solution is to have an air ambulance for such cases," Maldivian media Adhadhu quoted the boy’s father as saying.
The reports said the boy was brought to Male 16 hours after the emergency evacuation request was made.
The Aasandha Company Limited later in a statement as per the reports said after the company received the emergency evacuation request they initiated the process to evacuate immediately, but “unfortunately, due to a technical problem with the flight at the last moment, the diversion was not possible as planned”.
Maldives MP Meekail Naseem over the death of a teenager said: “People shouldn’t have to pay with their lives to satisfy the President’s animosity towards India".
