At least 49 migrant workers, including around 40 Indian citizens, have died in a deadly fire that devastated a building in Kuwait’s southern district of Al-Mangaf. The fire that broke out in the apartment building located in Kuwait’s Al Ahmadi Governorate early on Wednesday also left more than a dozen injured, who were admitted to nearby hospitals, reported the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed shock over the incident, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed ‘serious concern’ about the condition of Indians in the Gulf region.
Kuwait building fire: Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh said he is travelling to Kuwait on Thursday following a massive fire that killed at least 41 Indians in the city early Wednesday. He said, "The incident in Kuwait is unfortunate. All of us, including the PM, are very concerned." He added bodies will be brought to India as soon as they are identified.
Singh added that the latest figures that “we had last night, the casualty figures are around 48-49 out of this 42 or 43 are believed to be Indians". A fire broke out in a building housing workers in the city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait early on Wednesday (June 12). Reportedly, 41 Indians, including 11 Keralites, lost their lives in the incident.
Kuwait, like other Persian Gulf countries, has a large community of migrant workers who far outnumber the local population. The nation of some 4.2 million people is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of New Jersey but has the world’s sixth-largest known oil reserves.
Kuwait Building Fire:Casualty figures are around 48-49, says Union minister
MoS MEA Kirti Vardhan Singh said, "The latest figures that we had last night, the casualty figures are around 48-49 out of this 42 or 43 are believed to be Indians."
Mortal remains to be brought to India as soon as...'
He said on Thursday the incident in Kuwait is “unfortunate". He said, "All of us including the PM are very concerned. I am going there and see the situation. People from our embassy are already there on the ground looking after the injured... I am going there and I will inform the government regarding the conditions there... DNA testing is being carried out to identify the bodies. This might take some time to bring the mortal remains to India. The Air Force place is on the go. As soon as the bodies are identified, they would be brought to India..."
Kuwait Building Fire:PM Modi announces ex-gratia relief of ₹2 lakh for deceased
PM Modi extends condolences to the families of the deceased in a fire tragedy in Kuwait, and wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured and announces ex-gratia relief of ₹2 lakh to the families of deceased Indian nationals from Prime Minister Relief Fund: PMO
Kirti Vardhan Singh says, ‘…had a meeting with PM Modi and tomorrow morning we are travelling to Kuwait’
On Kuwait fire incident, MoS MEA Kirti Vardhan Singh says, "...We stand with the victims of the Kuwait fire incident, we express our sympathy to them. We had a meeting with PM Modi and tomorrow morning we are travelling to Kuwait. We will take stock of the situation and those who are admitted to the hospital. The identification process of those who have died is underway...The maximum people are from Kerala and other parts of South India..."
Congress leader Salman Khurshid says, ‘It's very saddening, worrying’
On the Kuwait fire incident, Congress leader Salman Khurshid says, "It's very saddening, worrying... whatever relief we can send them, that needs to be done. Kuwait has very good services, and I hope the govt will extend every possible help, as the govt has this responsibility in such a situation. All the opposition parties will cooperate. The govt should take steps as soon as possible and whatever information they receive from Kuwait, they should share it as it will give some relief to many."
Kuwait Building Fire:PM Modi called on a meeting to discuss the incident
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on a meeting to discuss the situation of the Kuwait fire incident which claimed the lives of over 40 people and took place early Wednesday.
Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on Wednesday said that following the meeting, he will leave for Kuwait.
He further emphasised that immediate action will be taken.
"PM Modi has called us for a meeting and after the meeting we will visit Kuwait. An immediate action will be taken," MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh said.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the fire incident in Kuwait which took place early Wednesday.
PM Modi expressed his sadness over the fire mishap in Kuwait City adding that his thoughts are with the family and close ones of the victims of the incident.
Kuwait Building Fire:Identification process of those who have died is underway, MoS MEA KV Singh
Kuwait Building Fire Live: “We had a meeting with PM Modi and tomorrow morning we are travelling to Kuwait. We will take stock of the situation and those who are admitted to the hospital. The identification process of those who have died is underway...The maximum people are from Kerala and other parts of South India...", MoS MEA KV Singh.
Kuwait Building Fire:NORCA ROOTS starts 24-hour Global Contact Center
Kuwait Building Fire: NORCA ROOTS (Non-Resident Keralites Affairs) starts a Help Desk related to the incident of fire in Kuwait -
+965 90039594, +965 66893942, +965 60615153, +965 66015200, +965 51714124, +965 55575492, +965 99861103, +965 60311882, +965 65589453, +96 555464554, + 96599122984
Non-resident Keralites can contact the 24-hour NORCA Global Contact Center on toll-free numbers 1800 425 3939 (from India) +91-8802 012 345 (from abroad, missed call service).
41 Indians, including 11 from Kerala, had died in the fire
A government agency for Keralites living outside the state said it had been told by the Indian community in Kuwait that 41 Indians, including 11 from Kerala, had died in the fire.
Kuwait Building Fire:Emir of Kuwait expresses his sincere sorrow and deep sympathy
Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Wednesday ordered authorities to probe the massive fire at an apartment building housing foreign workers, mostly Indians, and vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the tragedy that killed at least 49 people.
Around 50 people, the majority of Indians, were killed in the fire early Wednesday in a six-storey building housing labourers in southern Kuwait, according to the latest reports.
Director General of the Forensic Department Maj Gen Eid Al-Owaihan said that the majority of the deceased were Indian nationals from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and north Indian states.
In a condolence message sent to the families of the victims of the fire incident in Mangaf, the Emir expressed his sincere sorrow and deep sympathy to the families of the victims and wished a fast recovery to the injured.
The Emir directed officials to follow up to the causes of the fire outbreak and hold whomever responsible accountable, the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.
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Death toll rises to 49
The interior ministry revised the death toll up to 49, from 35 issued earlier, after forensic teams scoured the charred building.
"The number of deaths as a result of the fire in the workers' building... has risen to 49," the ministry said.
The health ministry had previously announced 43 injured in the blaze in the Mangaf area, which is heavily populated with migrant labourers.
The building, whose exterior was blackened with soot, housed 196 workers, according to information given to the interior minister by their employer.
