Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia relief of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for the families of Indian nationals killed in a major fire at a building housing around 195 migrant workers in Kuwait. An official statement confirmed that Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh is urgently traveling to Kuwait to oversee relief measures and facilitate the expeditious repatriation of the mortal remains of those killed.
Over 40 Indians were killed and more than 50 others were injured after a fire broke out in a kitchen in the six-storey building in Mangaf area in Kuwait’s southern Ahmadi Governorate in the early hours of Wednesday, June 12. The total number of people killed in the Al-Mangaf building was 49, with 42 of them being Indian nationals. Most of the Indian victims are reported to be from Kerala. The remaining victims included Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, and Nepali nationals.
The construction firm NBTC group, which rented the building, is partly owned by an Indian and housed over 195 workers, most of them from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and northern states.
To assess the situation, PM Modi chaired a review meeting at his residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Principal Secretary to the PM PK Mishra among others. He directed that the Government of India should extend all possible assistance to the affected families.
Expressing deep sorrow over the unfortunate incident, he extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
"The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected," Modi said in an X post.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking the Centre's intervention and necessary directions to the Indian Embassy to coordinate relief and rescue operations. The Kerala government also decided to cancel the Loka Kerala Sabha's inaugural conference and related programs in view of the tragedy.
Jaishankar also expressed deep shock over the incident, emphasising that the Indian embassy in Kuwait will provide the "fullest assistance" to all affected.
"Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait City. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalised. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information," he said in a post on X.
"Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard," MEA added.
To provide assistance, the Indian Embassy has issued an emergency helpline number. "In connection with the tragic fire-accident involving Indian workers today, Embassy has put in place an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246. All concerned are requested to connect over this helpline for updates. Embassy remains committed to render all possible assistance,” the Indian Embassy in Kuwait said in a post on X.
Indian Ambassador Adarsh Swaika visited the fire-incident site and later hospitals where Indian workers injured in the fire incident have been admitted.
"Amb @AdarshSwaika1 visited the tragic fire-incident site in Mangaf to ascertain the situation. Embassy is in constant touch with relevant Kuwaiti law enforcement, fire-service and health authorities for necessary action and emergency medical health-care," the Indian mission said.
At the Al-Adan hospital, the Indian diplomat met a number of patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy. Almost all are reported to be stable by hospital authorities, the mission said.
Ambassador Swaika also visited Farwaniya Hospital, where 6 workers, expected to be mostly Indians, injured in today’s fire-incident were admitted. Hospital authorities confirmed that 4 of them have been released, 1 has been shifted to Jahra hospital and 1 in ward is reportedly stable, the Indian mission said in another post on X.
Kuwait's Interior Ministry stated that criminal evidence department personnel are working to identify the victims and determine the cause of the fire. Strict measures will be taken against building owners who violate norms, the ministry added.
Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah, serving as the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and Minister of Defence, has ordered police to arrest the owner of the Mangaf building, the building’s janitor, as well as the owner of the company responsible for the workers pending the end of the criminal evidence personnel’s examination of the scene, the Kuwait Times reported.
"What happened today is a result of the greed of the company and building owners," the minister said in a statement as he visited the fire scene.
He said that he gave orders to Kuwait Municipality and the Public Authority for Manpower to launch immediate action to address similar violations where large numbers of workers are crammed into one residential building, and make sure that all safety requirements are in place in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Over 40 Indians were killed and more than 50 others were injured after a fire broke out in a kitchen in the six-storey building in Mangaf area in Kuwait’s southern Ahmadi Governorate in the early hours of Wednesday, June 12. The total number of people killed in the Al-Mangaf building was 49, with 42 of them being Indian nationals. Most of the Indian victims are reported to be from Kerala. The remaining victims included Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, and Nepali nationals.
The construction firm NBTC group, which rented the building, is partly owned by an Indian and housed over 195 workers, most of them from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and northern states.
To assess the situation, PM Modi chaired a review meeting at his residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Principal Secretary to the PM PK Mishra among others. He directed that the Government of India should extend all possible assistance to the affected families.
Expressing deep sorrow over the unfortunate incident, he extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
"The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected," Modi said in an X post.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking the Centre's intervention and necessary directions to the Indian Embassy to coordinate relief and rescue operations. The Kerala government also decided to cancel the Loka Kerala Sabha's inaugural conference and related programs in view of the tragedy.
Jaishankar also expressed deep shock over the incident, emphasising that the Indian embassy in Kuwait will provide the "fullest assistance" to all affected.
"Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait City. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalised. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information," he said in a post on X.
"Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard," MEA added.
To provide assistance, the Indian Embassy has issued an emergency helpline number. "In connection with the tragic fire-accident involving Indian workers today, Embassy has put in place an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246. All concerned are requested to connect over this helpline for updates. Embassy remains committed to render all possible assistance,” the Indian Embassy in Kuwait said in a post on X.
Indian Ambassador Adarsh Swaika visited the fire-incident site and later hospitals where Indian workers injured in the fire incident have been admitted.
"Amb @AdarshSwaika1 visited the tragic fire-incident site in Mangaf to ascertain the situation. Embassy is in constant touch with relevant Kuwaiti law enforcement, fire-service and health authorities for necessary action and emergency medical health-care," the Indian mission said.
At the Al-Adan hospital, the Indian diplomat met a number of patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy. Almost all are reported to be stable by hospital authorities, the mission said.
Ambassador Swaika also visited Farwaniya Hospital, where 6 workers, expected to be mostly Indians, injured in today’s fire-incident were admitted. Hospital authorities confirmed that 4 of them have been released, 1 has been shifted to Jahra hospital and 1 in ward is reportedly stable, the Indian mission said in another post on X.
Kuwait's Interior Ministry stated that criminal evidence department personnel are working to identify the victims and determine the cause of the fire. Strict measures will be taken against building owners who violate norms, the ministry added.
Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah, serving as the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and Minister of Defence, has ordered police to arrest the owner of the Mangaf building, the building’s janitor, as well as the owner of the company responsible for the workers pending the end of the criminal evidence personnel’s examination of the scene, the Kuwait Times reported.
"What happened today is a result of the greed of the company and building owners," the minister said in a statement as he visited the fire scene.
He said that he gave orders to Kuwait Municipality and the Public Authority for Manpower to launch immediate action to address similar violations where large numbers of workers are crammed into one residential building, and make sure that all safety requirements are in place in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.
First Published: Jun 12, 2024 5:34 PM IST
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