Forty Indians were killed and 50 injured after a fire broke out in a building which housed workers in Kuwait’s Mangaf city, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The fire, which resulted in 49 fatalities, began at 6 am local time (9 am IST) in a kitchen in the six-storey building. The building housed nearly 195 workers from the same company. Officials stated that most deaths were due to smoke inhalation while residents were sleeping.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level review meeting at his residence and announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh for the families of those who died. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The injured are receiving treatment in five government hospitals in Kuwait: Adan, Jaber, Farwaniya, Mubarak Al Kabeer, and Jahra. According to hospital authorities, most of the admitted patients are stable.
The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the Indian embassy in Kuwait is in touch with local authorities and has established a helpline (+965-65505246 for WhatsApp and regular calls) for family members seeking information. The Kuwait Times reported that Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah, the First Deputy Prime Minister, has ordered the arrest of the building’s owner, the janitor, and the owner of the company responsible for the workers, pending the completion of the criminal evidence examination.
Indians constitute 21% (10 lakh) of Kuwait’s total population and 30% of its workforce (approximately 9 lakh). The other victims of the fire were reportedly from Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt, and Nepal.
