New Delhi: More than 40 Indians were killed and over 50 others injured in a massive fire that broke out in the early morning at a building housing about 195 migrant workers in Mangaf area of southern Kuwait, officials said on Wednesday.
The total number of people killed in the Al-Mangaf building was 49 and it was revealed that 42 of them were Indians; The rest are Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian and Nepalese nationals, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the fire incident as "tragic", reviewed the situation arising out of it in a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra, among others. . An official statement said Modi expressed deep grief over the "unfortunate incident" and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. He also announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh to the family of each deceased Indian citizen from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.Following the Prime Minister's direction, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh is on an urgent visit to Kuwait primarily to oversee assistance to Indians injured in the fire and to ensure early repatriation of the bodies of those killed.
The official statement said Modi wished for the speedy recovery of the injured and directed that the Indian government should provide all possible assistance. "The incident of fire in Kuwait City is tragic. My condolences are with all those who lost their lives." Have lost your loved ones. I pray that the injured get well soon.The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected," Modi had said earlier on X.
Jaishankar also expressed deep sorrow over the incident and said the Indian embassy in the Gulf country would provide "full assistance" to all concerned.
Officials said most of the Indian victims were from Kerala. Kuwaiti media reported that the fire in the Al-Mangaf building was reported to Al-Ahmadi Governorate authorities at 4.30 am and that most of the deaths were due to smoke inhalation, with the fire starting in the kitchen.Kuwait's Interior Ministry confirmed in a statement that the death toll had reached 49.
Jaishankar said on Twitter, "Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait City. More than 40 people have reportedly died and more than 50 have been admitted to the hospital. At our ambassadorial camp. We are waiting for further information."He said, "Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. I wish for the speedy and complete recovery of those who have been injured."
Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika visited several hospitals where the injured have been admitted.
Kuwaiti media said construction company NBTC Group rented the building to house more than 195 workers, most of whom were Indians from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and northern states. Officials said NBTC Group was partly owned by an Indian. Is nearby.Kuwait's Ministry of Interior said that Criminal Evidence Department employees are currently working on identifying the victims and uncovering the cause of the fire.
It added that strict measures will be taken against building owners who violate the prescribed norms. Major General Eid al-Owaihan, head of the Interior Ministry's General Department of Criminal Evidence, said, "Unfortunately, we received a call at exactly 6:00 a.m. (0300 GMT) A fire was reported in the Mangaf area."
Kuwait's Health Ministry said the injured were admitted to several hospitals, including 21 to Al-Adan Hospital, six to Farwaniya Hospital, one to Al-Amiri and 11 to Mubarak Hospital.
Officials in Delhi said Indian Embassy officials were visiting hospitals where the victims were taken.An official said that the number of dead and injured would be known after getting detailed information.
Indian Embassy said on 'X', "Ambassador @AdarshSwaika visited Al-Adan Hospital, where over 30 Indian workers injured in today's fire incident have been admitted. He met several patients and gave them Assured full assistance from the Embassy."
"Hospital authorities have declared the condition of almost everyone to be stable," it said. Indian Ambassador Swaika also visited the fire site.
The Indian Embassy said it is in touch with Kuwaiti law enforcement officials, fire service and health department for necessary action.Kuwait's Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef Al-Sabah ordered an investigation into the fire incident and issued instructions to arrest the owner and watchman of the Al-Mangaf building. Kuwait Times quoted Al-Sabah as saying, "Today “What happened is the result of the greed of the company and the building owners.” Kuwaiti authorities have begun an investigation into the fire.
According to Kuwaiti reports, Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahd Youssef Saud Al-Sabah visited the site of the fire and blamed violation of norms and greed by real estate owners for the incident.
The total number of people killed in the Al-Mangaf building was 49 and it was revealed that 42 of them were Indians; The rest are Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian and Nepalese nationals, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the fire incident as "tragic", reviewed the situation arising out of it in a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra, among others. . An official statement said Modi expressed deep grief over the "unfortunate incident" and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. He also announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh to the family of each deceased Indian citizen from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.Following the Prime Minister's direction, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh is on an urgent visit to Kuwait primarily to oversee assistance to Indians injured in the fire and to ensure early repatriation of the bodies of those killed.
The official statement said Modi wished for the speedy recovery of the injured and directed that the Indian government should provide all possible assistance. "The incident of fire in Kuwait City is tragic. My condolences are with all those who lost their lives." Have lost your loved ones. I pray that the injured get well soon.The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected," Modi had said earlier on X.
Jaishankar also expressed deep sorrow over the incident and said the Indian embassy in the Gulf country would provide "full assistance" to all concerned.
Officials said most of the Indian victims were from Kerala. Kuwaiti media reported that the fire in the Al-Mangaf building was reported to Al-Ahmadi Governorate authorities at 4.30 am and that most of the deaths were due to smoke inhalation, with the fire starting in the kitchen.Kuwait's Interior Ministry confirmed in a statement that the death toll had reached 49.
Jaishankar said on Twitter, "Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait City. More than 40 people have reportedly died and more than 50 have been admitted to the hospital. At our ambassadorial camp. We are waiting for further information."He said, "Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. I wish for the speedy and complete recovery of those who have been injured."
Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika visited several hospitals where the injured have been admitted.
Kuwaiti media said construction company NBTC Group rented the building to house more than 195 workers, most of whom were Indians from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and northern states. Officials said NBTC Group was partly owned by an Indian. Is nearby.Kuwait's Ministry of Interior said that Criminal Evidence Department employees are currently working on identifying the victims and uncovering the cause of the fire.
It added that strict measures will be taken against building owners who violate the prescribed norms. Major General Eid al-Owaihan, head of the Interior Ministry's General Department of Criminal Evidence, said, "Unfortunately, we received a call at exactly 6:00 a.m. (0300 GMT) A fire was reported in the Mangaf area."
Kuwait's Health Ministry said the injured were admitted to several hospitals, including 21 to Al-Adan Hospital, six to Farwaniya Hospital, one to Al-Amiri and 11 to Mubarak Hospital.
Officials in Delhi said Indian Embassy officials were visiting hospitals where the victims were taken.An official said that the number of dead and injured would be known after getting detailed information.
Indian Embassy said on 'X', "Ambassador @AdarshSwaika visited Al-Adan Hospital, where over 30 Indian workers injured in today's fire incident have been admitted. He met several patients and gave them Assured full assistance from the Embassy."
"Hospital authorities have declared the condition of almost everyone to be stable," it said. Indian Ambassador Swaika also visited the fire site.
The Indian Embassy said it is in touch with Kuwaiti law enforcement officials, fire service and health department for necessary action.Kuwait's Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef Al-Sabah ordered an investigation into the fire incident and issued instructions to arrest the owner and watchman of the Al-Mangaf building. Kuwait Times quoted Al-Sabah as saying, "Today “What happened is the result of the greed of the company and the building owners.” Kuwaiti authorities have begun an investigation into the fire.
According to Kuwaiti reports, Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahd Youssef Saud Al-Sabah visited the site of the fire and blamed violation of norms and greed by real estate owners for the incident.
