MNDF to bring in helicopter to search for missing dhoni

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has said that efforts are under way to bring in a helicopter from India to search for the missing dhoni ‘Rankuri’.

MNDF said that it is unlikely that the dhoni would have left Maldivian territory.

The dhoni was carrying two Maldivians and two foreign nationals, and has been missing for three days.

Major Mohamed Saleem said at a press conference at Coast Guard Building today that there has been no news of the dhoni.

“It is estimated to be about 160 miles away. Based on the wind, it would have gone east,” he said.

He said that India and Sri Lanka have been informed of the missing dhoni.

MNDF has utilised an aircraft and the Indian military ship which patrols the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Maldives, in search of Rankuri.

The dhoni left Vilingili on Monday morning. Coast Guard informed today that the cargo dhoni was carrying enough food to last one week.

However, no information has been received about the dhoni, and not even the dhoni’s calls for help have been heard.

“When these things happen, the vessels’ safety measures are usually poor. We have not been able to track the dhoni yet,” he said.

The missing dhoni is light green, 95ft long, and contains a white structure on the front deck.

The dhoni belongs to Ga. Nilandhoo, and had been leased to a man from Ga. Dhiyadhoo. Sun Online understands that the two Maldivians onboard are from R. Rasgatheem and the two foreign nationals are from Bangladesh.