A senior State Electric Company Limited supervisor who sustained critical injuries in last month’s Hulhumale Old Powerhouse fire has died despite being flown overseas on a private medical charter for advanced treatment. The victim, Ahmed Azmeel, 43, had served STELCO for more than 21 years and was widely respected among technical teams.
Azmeel was injured on 26 November while working to restore electricity to areas of Hulhumale Phase 1 after a midday outage. A fire broke out during work on a switchgear unit inside the powerhouse, causing severe burns and trauma. He was rushed to Hulhumale Hospital before specialists recommended immediate overseas care due to the extent of his injuries.
To ensure the fastest and safest medical transfer, STELCO arranged a private charter jet to Bangkok Hospital in Thailand on 1 December. The company stated that the emergency evacuation reflected its commitment to employee wellbeing and its readiness to provide the highest possible support for staff injured in the line of duty.
Male and Hulhumale have faced two major power outages this year, leading to joint investigations by the police and STELCO to review operational challenges and identify areas for improvement. Planned upgrade works on the capital region’s electricity grid are also continuing, requiring occasional power interruptions as systems are modernised.
Azmeel’s passing has drawn attention to the risks faced by frontline utility workers and has prompted renewed appreciation for the essential role STELCO teams play in maintaining national power reliability. The company noted that it remains focused on improving safety, strengthening technical systems, and supporting its workforce at every level.
