The capital city of Maldives is faced with a water crisis after a fire in a water treatment plant cut off supply for more than one lakh residents in Male.
The Maldives government appealed to neighbours India, Sri Lanka as well as to China and the United States after it declared a crisis situation.
Maldives, an island nation in the Indian ocean, has no natural water source and consumes only treated sea water. The fire broke out in the treatment plant on Thursday.
India sent out water to the island, with the Indian Air Force carrying potable water.
"India to provide all assistance to Maldives in facing water shortage due to fire in desalination plant," Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson for India's External Affairs Ministry tweeted.
Five flights from India are scheduled to transfer drinking water to Maldives on Friday, while it has also sent a patrol vessel equipped with a water treating facility to the Maldives, according to the Associated Press.
Indian assistance arrives in Maldives. First IL-76 with drinking water from India lands in Male. pic.twitter.com/qZ6Uilk59U
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) December 5, 2014
India to provide all assistance to Maldives in facing water shortage due to fire in desalination plant.
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) December 5, 2014
