Indian aircraft assists with search for

An Indian aircraft has commenced search efforts for S. Maradhoo’s “Hivvaru” boat, which went missing after it left Male’ en route to Huvadhoo Atoll.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said that a special flight of the Indian Navy has been active in the search efforts for “Hivvaru” since this morning.

They informed that the Indian flight is equipped with the latest tools used in search and rescue operations.

The flight arrived in Maldives last night to assist with the search for “Hivvaru”.

MNDF has said that the boat, carrying three foreign nationals, five Maldivians and an 11-year-old child, is still likely to be in Maldivian territory. MNDF has asked coordinating centres in neighbouring countries Sri Lanka, India, Seychelles and Mauritius to provide information about boats travelling through their waters.