As water crisis hits Maldives, PM Modi promises all help

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight promised to extend all help to the Maldives, hours after a large consignment of water was rushed to the island nation where a fire incident created a sudden water crisis.

"I assure ... that India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Maldives & together we will take our ties further ahead," Modi tweeted after former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and other leaders expressed gratitude to him and India for the help.

"Recently, I had a fruitful meeting with President Abdulla Yameen. We are committed to extending a helping hand to the best of our abilities," the Prime Minister said.

In response to Nasheed's tweet, Modi said "..I welcome your sentiments & want to add that as friends, our nations are always there to help each other."

Earlier, Nasheed tweeted "I thank the people of India, their Military and Govt. for their quick and kind assistance for the ppl of Maldives in every instance of need."

Maldivian capital Male was suddenly hit by water crisis after a fire in the city's water treatment plant.

After receiving SOS from Maldives, India responded quickly, sending an IAF transport aircraft and naval vessels with a large consignment of water to meet the immediate requirement of over 100,000 people.

Indian Navy's patrol vessel INS Sukanya would be stationed to produce water round-the-clock to meet the water crisis.

It 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.

Apart from this, a large tanker vessel INS Deepak has also set sail from Mumbai. Two more offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) have been kept on stand-by for future requirements.