Search for Minhaj ends after 2,000 square nautical miles sweep
Although it is held that the speedboat had travelled to Ukulhas, there are doubts about the incident.
By
Shahudha Mohamed
Search for a man who had gone missing when a speedboat capsized has concluded on Tuesday after having searched a large area by sea and air.
Two men had reportedly departed from Male on last Thursday on a speedboat to AA. Ukulhas. The next day, the speedboat was found capsized near Maalhos of the same atoll. One of them had survived and drifted to Feridhoo, but Mohamed Minhaj, 28, is still missing.
MNDF details on the four-day operation:
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300 square nautical miles of area inspected on Monday alone
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A total of 2,000 square nautical miles swept by air
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A total area of 665 square nautical miles swept by sea
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Coastguard ship 'Shaheed Ali' , MNDF’s fast-intercept craft ‘Hakuraa’ and their Dornier aircraft was used in the search.
MNDF requests the public to forward them any information regarding Minhaj by calling their toll free hotline at 191 or phones 3395981/3398898.
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Viber: 9931082
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Fax: 3391665
Although it is held that the speedboat had travelled to Ukulhas, there are doubts about the incident.
Incident timeline:
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5 October (Wednesday), 1pm - Minhaj's disappeared, according to his family
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6 October (Thursday), 1pm - Time when the speedboat had allegedly left Male
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6 October (Thursday), around 8.50pm - Minhaj was reported missing to the police by his family
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7 October (Friday), 2.40pm - MNDF said that a speedboat was found capsized south of Maalhos
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7 October (Friday), 3.37pm - Police revealed that the speedboat was found capsized near Maalhos, and a man was found in Feridhoo
The cast away man found in Feridhoo was brought to Male for further treatment after being treated at the island's health centre first. He was released after treatment from IGMH on Sunday.
