Indian team assisting in fire investigation departs

The Indian team that arrived in the Maldives for the investigation into fire that broke out at the building housing three ministries has left.

The fire on December 12^th burned down two buildings that housed the Housing Ministry, Infrastructure Ministry, Environment Ministry and an office of Male’ City Council.

Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau announced that Maldives Police Service will be seeking assistance from foreign experts to the investigation on December 14^th. On December 20^th, it was announced that a team of Indian experts was assisting the authority in the investigation.

Speaking to Sun on Friday, Police Spokesperson and Head of Service Development Directorate Ahmed Shifan said the Indian team has not left. He detailed that the team departed after working on the case for four days. However, he did not disclose any further information.

Notably, Ministry of Public Works undertook efforts to clean the premises of the fire.

This has been criticized by the opposition, citing there is no meaning behind cleaning a premise that will be needed for the investigation. In this regard, they have accused the government of attempting to hide something.

The operations of the ministries impacted in the fire have been temporarily shifted to Dharubaaruge while Male’ City Council is undertaking efforts to organize and recover documents salvaged from the fire at Galolhu School.