New Delhi, June 12, 2024: Twenty-one workers among the 40 Indians who perished in a massive fire in Kuwait yesterday were from Kerala, state authorities confirmed today. The devastating blaze, which erupted in a kitchen of a seven-storey building housing 195 migrant workers in Mangaf, Ahmadi Governorate, has left a total of 49 workers dead, including nine other foreign nationals.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George is traveling to Kuwait to oversee the treatment of those injured and facilitate the repatriation of the deceased, as reported by news agency PTI. Additionally, Junior Foreign Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh, dispatched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is already in Kuwait to aid in coordinating these efforts.
The Kerala government has announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to the families of the deceased workers from the state.
The fire, which started around 4 am when most residents were asleep, quickly spread, filling the building with thick black smoke that caused the majority of fatalities due to suffocation. This incident has ignited calls for stricter enforcement against landlords and company owners who violate housing regulations, often placing large numbers of foreign workers in hazardous conditions to save costs.
Families of the victims are devastated by the tragedy. Ranjith, a worker from northern Kerala, had moved to Kuwait a year ago after celebrating the housewarming of his new home. He had planned to return for a vacation in July. His village is in shock over the news of his death. A neighbor recounted, “He built a house and the housewarming was held a year and a half ago… but this tragedy struck.”
The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, has ordered an investigation into the fire. In a condolence message, he expressed deep sympathy to the families of the victims and wished a swift recovery to the injured. He also directed officials to identify the causes of the fire and hold those responsible accountable, according to the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
