Indian team joins probe into fire

An expert team from India has joined the investigation into the fire which broke at a building housing three government ministries on December 12^th.

The fire burned down two buildings that housed Housing Ministry, Infrastructure Ministry, Environment Ministry and an office of Male’ City Council.

In a message to the media on Friday, Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau said an expert team from India is now assisting Maldives Police Service in their investigation into the fire that broke out at M. Green Building.

Prior to this, Shujau had announced plans to seek assistance from foreign experts for the investigation.

The cause of the fire remains unclear. Shujau has said the cause cannot be confirmed at this time as it is an ongoing investigation.

The buildings had completely burned down beyond use in the incident. 

Ministry of Public Works is presently undertaking 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.

Police are presently taking statements from witnesses who were first at the scene of the fire and individuals believed to have first tipped off regarding the incident. They have also appealed for anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward.

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