14-year-old dies in Maldives amid alleged delay in air ambulance approval

In a heart-wrenching incident in the Maldives, a 14-year-old boy diagnosed with a brain tumor and suffering from a stroke passed away on Saturday. Allegations have surfaced that the delay in obtaining approval from the Maldivian administration for an air ambulance provided by India may have played a critical role in the tragic outcome. The boy's family urgently sought medical evacuation from Gaaf Alif Villingili to the capital city, Male.

According to reports, the family claimed that their pleas for prompt medical evacuation went unanswered, leading to a 16-hour delay in the emergency evacuation process. The Aasandha Company Limited, responsible for the evacuation, cited a last-minute technical issue with the flight as the reason for the unfortunate delay.

The incident has triggered a public outcry, raising concerns about the efficiency of emergency response systems. Additionally, the tragedy unfolds amid strained diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives, with recent derogatory remarks by Maldivian ministers towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi escalating tensions.