Kuwait Fire news highlight: 24 of 49 dead in accident from Kerala; MoS arrives in Mangaf

Officials in Delhi said the C-130J transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force will bring back bodies of those who lost their lives in the Kuwait fire on Friday and it will first land in Kochi as most of the deceased Indians are from Kerala. (PTI)

Prominent NRI businessman and Chairman of UAE-based Lulu Group on Thursday announced ₹5 lakh each for the families of the deceased in the tragic Kuwait fire tragedy, which left 49 persons, including 45 Indians, dead.

Kerala health minister Veena George said, “We are expecting the bodies of the deceased...we are informed that the bodies will be transported to Kochi. (Kerala) CM has given all the instructions..25 ambulances have been arranged here. As per the embassy, 23 Keralites have died, and the total number of Indians who died is 45...I am going to Kuwait, as per the instruction of the CM and cabinet decision. I will be representing the govt of Kerala”

Kuwait's fire service said on Thursday an electrical short circuit caused the blaze that killed at least 49 people in a building housing foreign workers on Wednesday. (Reuters)

The NORKA official said that they have unofficial reports that 22 people from Kerala have been confirmed dead and that the identities of 15 of them have been confirmed.

Kuwaiti prosecutors asked on Thursday to bring one citizen and a number of residents into protective custody over accusations of manslaughter due to safety negligence after a fire in a building housing foreign workers killed 49 and injured another 49, state news agency (KUNA) said. (Reuters)

"We just know yesterday morning in all the tv telecasting news, there was some problem in Kuwait. For some burning of some buildings. We knew that Stephin was staying in that building... He has already seen the ticket for coming back to India for his new home at the end of next month. So we were waiting for him. Another tragedy is he already got a new car. It's on the delivery date of today. So it's a big tragedy and I don't know how to survive this typical moment.." said the uncle of Stephin, a man from Kerala who died in the Kuwait fire.

A split-second decision by Nalinakshan, who was among those in the residential building in Kuwait which caught fire, saved his life. At least 40 Indians are suspected to have died in the blaze. The resident of Thrikkaripur in northern Kerala, found himself trapped on a third floor apartment in the building when disaster struck. In a daring bid to escape the flames, he made a split-second decision that saved his life -- he jumped onto a nearby water tank. Though the leap to safety left him with broken ribs and injuries, Nalinakshan managed to survive the tragedy. (PTI)

Kuwaiti authorities have identified the bodies of 45 Indians and three Filipino nationals killed in the tragic fire incident in a building housing foreign workers in the Gulf Kingdom, a top official said on Thursday. (PTI)

Defence officials confirmed to ANI that an Indian Air Force’s C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft in on stand-by at the Hindan airbase near Delhi for bringing back bodies of Indian-origin persons who lost their lives in a fire incident in Kuwait.

On Thursday, Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya assured full support for the Indians affected by a massive fire in an apartment housing foreign workers. The tragedy killed 49 people, including about 40 Indians. The minister promised a prompt investigation into the incident. This assurance came during a meeting with India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, who is in Kuwait to oversee relief efforts and visit the injured.

Indian Embassy in Kuwait said, “MoS @KVSinghMPGonda called on FM of Kuwait H.E. Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya in Kuwait. FM Yahya conveyed his condolences on the tragic incident. He assured full support including for medical care, early repatriation of mortal remains and investigation of the incident.”

Amidst the sorrow and shock following the tragic fire in a residential building in Kuwait, where 40 Indians are suspected to have died, a story of courage and survival has emerged from Kerala. Nalinakshan, from Thrikkaripur in northern Kerala, was trapped in a third-floor apartment when the fire started. To escape, he made a quick decision to jump onto a nearby water tank. Although he broke his ribs and got injured, he survived. Nearby relatives found him and rushed him to a hospital in Kuwait for treatment. "We heard the shocking news around 11 am on Wednesday. He had jumped onto the water tank but couldn't move. Our relatives found him and immediately took him to the hospital," Nalinakshan's uncle Balakrishnan told a news channel. He added that the family couldn't talk much to Nalinakshan on the phone as he was bleeding from his mouth.

After MoS KV Singh met the injured Indian in the hospital on Thursday, the Indian embassy in Kuwait said that all injured Indians are out of danger and are safe.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai said, "This is a very sad incident. I express my condolences. Indians had gone there to work and this incident took place with them. The bereaved families should be given a compensation of at least ₹25 Lakhs each...In these times of inflation, ₹2 Lakhs hold no value...One member of each family should be given a job so that they can take care of their family. If the breadwinner of the family dies, in such a sad incident, the entire family breaks... ₹2 Lakhs compensation is very less..."

The family of Sajan George, an M.Tech graduate and chemical engineer in Kuwait, was worried because he was not answering calls after the fire in a building there. Though they were waiting for official confirmation, friends told his father that Sajan was likely in the building during the incident.

Kuwaiti authorities are conducting DNA tests on the bodies of those killed in the devastating fire in Mangaf, southern Kuwait. An Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft is ready to bring back the bodies of the Indians who died, officials said on Thursday.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh has gone to Kuwait, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's instructions, to help injured Indians and ensure the quick return of the bodies of those who died.

Officials said that 49 people were killed in the Al-Mangaf building, with 42 of them being Indians. The others were from Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt, and Nepal.

Former MoS MEA and BJP leader V Muraleedharan said on Kuwait, "The shocking incident of fire and loss of lives of almost 50 Indians in Kuwait is a tragic one. The government has immediately swung into action. The External Affairs Ministry has made necessary interventions. Yesterday late night, the PM conducted a meeting with all the senior functionaries of the MEA including the EAM. The necessary steps are being taken. MoS MEA left for Kuwait. He will hold discussions with the authorities in Kuwait and make efforts to bring back the mortal remains and also the steps required for treatment of injured. The relatives will be in possession of the mortal remains at the earliest."

The number of people from Kerala who died in the Kuwait fire has increased to 24, and seven seriously injured individuals from the state are being treated in various hospitals, according to a senior official of NORKA Roots on Thursday.

The Department of Non-Resident Keralites' Affairs (NORKA), created by the state government in 1996, addresses the grievances of non-resident Keralites and establishes a sustainable partnership with them.

Ajith Kolasseri, the acting NORKA Chief Executive Officer, said that according to unofficial information from its help desk in Kuwait, the number of Keralite casualties is rising. The count was 12 in the morning, then 19, and now it is 24.

On Thursday, BSP leader Mayawati expressed her condolences over the deaths of Indians in the Kuwait fire and urged the government to provide full assistance to their families.

She said in a post on X, “The death of 41 Indians in Kuwait fire accident is very sad. Deep condolences to the families of those who died and wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured. Central Government should provide full help to their families.”

It has been reported that five Tamils were among those who died in the Kuwait fire, according to Gingee KS Masthan, Tamil Nadu's Minister for Minorities Welfare and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare. Masthan stated that information provided by Tamil associations abroad revealed the victims hailed from regions including Thanjavur, Ramanathapuram, and Peravurani in Tamil Nadu. The deceased were identified as Rama Karuppan, Veerasamy Mariappan, Chinnadurai Krishnamurthy, Mohammed Sherif, and Richard.

Masthan informed reporters that following Chief Minister M K Stalin's instructions, efforts are underway to repatriate the bodies and provide necessary medical assistance to the injured.

Indian embassy in Kuwait said in a post on X, “On the directions of Hon'ble Prime Minister @narendramodi, MoS @KVSinghMPGonda arrives in Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in fire tragedy & coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this unfortunate incident”

19 Keralites have died in the Kuwait fire tragedy, says Kerala government.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George and state mission director (NHM) Jeevan Babu will depart for Kuwait immediately to coordinate medical operations there and make efforts to bring the mortal remains home, a note from the cabinet said.

The state government had ordered the setting up of a global contact centre and help desk at NORKA in Kuwait for the coordination of efforts in connection with the tragedy.