In a swift response to the ‘National Crisis’ faced by the Maldives, following the shutting down the desalination plants in a fire incident in capital in Male’, the Indian Government has pressed into service as much as five Indian Air Force transport aircraft and one Naval vessel carrying a large consignment of potable water to meet the immediate requirement of the people in Male’.
Out of five aircraft, the first aircraft to reach Male’ was an IL-76 carrying 22 tonnes of potable water. One C-17 Globemaster III carrying 28 tonnes has also reached Male this afternoon. Another C-17 Globemaster III carrying 50 tonnes of water will be reaching Male’ this evening. Two more IL-76 transport aircraft of IAF are scheduled to leave New Delhi tonight.
The Indian Navy has dispatched INS Sukanya to Male’ and it is expected to arrive Male’ later this evening.
INS Sukanya is carrying 35 Tonnes of fresh water and has two Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants onboard which have a capacity of producing 20 tonnes of fresh water per day.
INS Sukanya, an offshore patrol vessel, was on a routine patrol off Kochi. She was diverted to reach Male at the earliest to render necessary assistance and all the possible help to Maldivian authorities.
Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, has no natural water source and consumes only treated sea water.