A 14-year-old boy died in Male, allegedly after President Mohammed Muizzu refused approval to use a Dornier aircraft by India for his airlift.
According to local media reports, medical services for the teenager, who had a brain tumour and suffered a stroke, were delayed after authorities ignored the request for an air ambulance to transport him from his home island to the capital city, Male.
While the family has alleged a lack of prompt medical evacuation, Aasandha Company Limited, responding to the emergency evacuation request, cited a technical problem for the failure.
This development comes at a time when diplomatic relations between India and the archipelago nation have recently deteriorated, following derogatory comments made by the Maldivian ministers towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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