More than 45 lost their lives in a fire incident: in a so-called peaceful community of Kuwait

In a tragic fire incident in Kuwait, 45 Indians lost their lives, with 23 hailing from Kerala, in a so-called peaceful community of Kuwait

The fire, which engulfed a building in Kuwait City housing foreign workers, led to the deaths of 49 migrant workers and injured 50 others. An Indian Air Force C-130J transport aircraft brought back the mortal remains of the deceased to Kerala’s Cochin International Airport on June 14. Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, accompanied the bodies and coordinated the repatriation efforts with Kuwaiti authorities. The deceased Indians include individuals from various states: 23 from Kerala, seven from Tamil Nadu, three each from Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, two from Odisha, and one each from Bihar, Karnataka, Punjab, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, BJP state president K Surendran, Congress leader VD Satheesan, and Union Minister Suresh Gopi were present at the airport to receive the bodies. Suresh Gopi described the tragedy as a significant loss for the ‘pravaasi’ community, which contributes substantially to Kerala’s economy.

Kuwaiti authorities identified the bodies through DNA tests. The fire, reportedly caused by an electrical short circuit, resulted in most deaths due to smoke inhalation. Their Fire Force concluded this after examining the incident site. Officials, including Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya Al-Sabah and Health Minister Ahmad Abdelwahab Ahmad Al-Awadi, assured full support for medical care, early repatriation, and investigation into the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia relief of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced ₹5 lakh for the families of the victims from his state. The blaze broke out in a six-storey building in Al Mangaf, where over 195 workers, primarily from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and northern states, resided. Authorities are investigating the incident, with the building’s owner and janitor facing scrutiny. The fire highlights ongoing issues regarding worker housing conditions and safety in Kuwait.