Grieving families gathered solemnly at an Indian airport terminal on Friday as the bodies of dozens of migrant workers who perished in a Kuwait building fire were repatriated.
The tragic incident occurred early Wednesday, engulfing a housing block that housed numerous foreign laborers supporting Kuwait's oil-rich economy. The blaze claimed the lives of 50 people, out of which 45 were Indians. Many others were hospitalized, and their families back in India anxiously awaited news of their loved ones.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft carrying the mortal remains of the 45 Indian victims landed at Kochi at 10:30 a.m. on June 14. The same aircraft is scheduled to arrive in Delhi at 4 p.m.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, who coordinated with Kuwaiti authorities for the repatriation process, was on board the aircraft.
Kerala Revenue Minister K. Rajan announced that the Ministry of External Affairs had agreed to the Kerala government's decision to use a special Indian Air Force aircraft to transport the bodies via Cochin International Airport Ltd. This decision was made during a special Cabinet meeting, as a majority of the victims hailed from Kerala.
VK Singh Escorts Bodies of 45 Indians Killed in Kuwait Fire:
Union Minister of State VK Singh swiftly traveled to Kuwait on Thursday to accompany the bodies of 45 Indians who tragically died in a massive fire at a labor accommodation in Kuwait's Mangaf on June 12.
The victims included 23 individuals from Kerala, seven from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and one each from Bihar, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Punjab, and West Bengal.
Kuwaiti authorities conducted DNA testing on the deceased before releasing their remains to Indian officials for repatriation.
A press release from the Kuwaiti Fire Force, reported by the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA, attributed the tragic fire to an electrical circuit malfunction after an investigation of the incident site.
Authorities confirmed the identities of the 45 Indian victims and three Filipino victims of the fire, which engulfed the Al-Mangaf building in the Al-Ahmadi governorate. The blaze was first reported to authorities at 4:30 am on Wednesday and resulted in numerous fatalities, primarily due to smoke inhalation. Reports indicate the fire originated in a kitchen.
Updates on Kuwait Fire Incident (June 13): A massive fire broke out in a six-storied building in Mangaf city, Kuwait, on Wednesday, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 48 people. According to the Indian embassy, out of the 176 Indian workers residing in the building, 45 lost their lives, and 33 were hospitalized.
Read More:
Kuwait Fire: Special IAF Flight Carrying Bodies of 45 Indian Victims en route to Kochi
Kerala Announces 5-Lakh Aid for Victims of Kuwait Fire; Health Minister to Coordinate Relief Efforts
Indian Embassy Aids Citizens Affected by Kuwait Fire Tragedy
Kuwait Building Fire Claims 49 Lives, Live Updates: Jaishankar Speaks with Counterpart