Preparations underway to bring the bodies of Indians burnt alive in Kuwait to India, they will be sent home by Air Force plane
Kuwait Fire: The six-storey building in Kuwait that caught fire housed around 200 people and most of the deaths of officials were due to smoke in their sleep. Keep in mind that Indians constitute 21 percent of the total population of Kuwait and 30 percent of the workforce.
Muskan
Follow Us
The bodies of some Indians killed in the fire in Kuwait are so burnt that they cannot be identified and DNA tests are underway to confirm the identity of the victims. Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh gave information to this effect.
The Gonda MP, who had to go to the Gulf country soon after taking charge as Minister of State for External Affairs, said that an Indian Air Force plane is ready to bring the bodies home. He said, "As soon as the bodies are identified, their families will be informed and our Air Force plane will bring these bodies back."
Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh said that according to the latest figures, 48 people have died after being burnt alive in Kuwait and 42 of them are believed to be Indians. The fire broke out in the kitchen of the six-storey building on Wednesday morning. Around 200 people were staying in the building and officials said most of the deaths in Kuwait were due to smoke inhalation during sleep.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the tragic incident at a high-level meeting at his residence on Wednesday night and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those killed in the fire. He has expressed condolences to the families and wished the injured – around 50 – a speedy recovery. In fact, it is the survivors who are helping the authorities to identify the severely burnt bodies.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has spoken to his Kuwaiti counterpart Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya. “Assured that the incident will be thoroughly investigated and responsibility will be fixed,” Jaishankar said on Twitter. “He urged for the speedy repatriation of the bodies of those who lost their lives. Please note,” he added.
The Indian embassy in Kuwait has established a helpline (+965-65505246) to contact the victims' families. The first list of victims' identities is scheduled to be issued late Thursday night. The local administration has initiated an investigation into how more than 160 individuals were living in the building, and action may be taken against the building owner and anyone responsible for the event.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has confirmed that at least five of the dead were from the state. Chief Minister MK Stalin has shared his condolences. Tamil Nadu Minister for Non-Resident Tamils, KS Mastan, has stated that identifying the dead is a hurdle and they are awaiting formal confirmation.
