The bodies of forty-five Indians who perished in a massive fire in Kuwait two days ago have been brought to Kerala by a special Air Force aircraft. Delhi is its next destination.
The Indian embassy announced earlier this morning that Gonda MP Kirti Vardhan Singh, who was forced to travel quickly to Kuwait after taking over as a junior minister in the foreign ministry, was also on board the aircraft.
On board the aircraft picture is MoS @KVSinghMPGonda, who worked with Kuwaiti authorities to ensure a prompt repatriation.
“A special Indian Air Force aircraft has taken off for Kochi, carrying the mortal remains of forty-five Indian victims of the Kuwaiti fire incident.” The Indian embassy in Kuwait said, “MoS @KVSinghMPGonda, who coordinated with Kuwaiti authorities ensuring swift repatriation, is onboard the aircraft.”
When the plane lands in Cochin, there will be ambulances waiting, according to pictures posted online.
At least 48 people were killed on Wednesday when a massive fire broke out in a six-story building in Mangaf city. According to the embassy, of the 176 Indian workers housed in the facility, 45 have passed away and 33 are in the hospital. It’s said the others are secure.
There are 23 Keralites among the victims, along with seven Tamils, three from Uttar Pradesh, two from Odisha, and one each from Punjab, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Haryana.
After arriving in Kuwait on Thursday, Mr. Singh went to five hospitals to see the injured Indian workers receiving medical attention. The hospital officials were cited by the embassy in their statement that they will be released gradually, contingent on their health.
The minister also met Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah, the First Deputy Prime Minister, during his visit, who gave him assurances about full assistance and support in the early repatriation of the bodies.
After reviewing the sad event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the families of those who perished in the Kuwait fire would receive ₹ 2 lakh in compensation.
The Kuwaiti government is also looking into how the building accommodated over 160 occupants.
