Two cousins are reportedly receiving ventilator support at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) following a serious motorcycle collision in Hulhumalé Phase Two that left five people injured.
The accident occurred on Nirolhu Magu at approximately 2:55 am on Tuesday, when two motorcycles collided in circumstances that police say involved suspected traffic violations.
According to police, one of the motorcycles was allegedly stolen and was being ridden against the designated direction of traffic on a one-way road.
Three people were travelling on that motorcycle at the time of the collision, while the second motorcycle was carrying two individuals.
Police also revealed that the person riding the motorcycle suspected of being stolen did not hold a valid driving licence for that category of vehicle.
All five people involved in the accident sustained injuries and were transported to IGMH for medical treatment.
The hospital has since confirmed that two of the injured remain on ventilator support, while the other three are receiving treatment in hospital wards.
The two patients requiring ventilator assistance are reportedly cousins who had been travelling together on the second motorcycle.
A relative of the victims disclosed their relationship in a social media post, expressing concern over their condition.
The relative also claimed that one of the cousins had suffered bleeding in the brain as a result of the accident.
However, the hospital has not publicly confirmed the reported brain haemorrhage, and the full extent of the injuries sustained by the two patients has not been officially disclosed.
Ventilator support is generally provided to patients who are unable to breathe adequately on their own or require assistance with breathing while receiving intensive medical care.
The collision has raised concerns over road safety in Hulhumalé, particularly the dangers associated with wrong-way riding, unlicensed driving and carrying more passengers than a motorcycle is permitted to accommodate.
Under Maldivian traffic regulations, motorcycle riders are required to possess the appropriate driving licence and comply with road signs, designated traffic directions and passenger restrictions.
Violations of these rules can place both riders and other road users at serious risk, especially during late-night and early-morning hours.
Police have identified suspected violations involving one of the motorcycles, although the precise circumstances leading to the collision and responsibility for the accident have yet to be conclusively established.
The latest hospital update confirms that all five injured individuals remain under medical care, with the condition of the two patients on ventilators continuing to be a particular concern.
