Kuwait Building Fire: PM Modi Extends Condolences To Families Of Deceased, Dispatches Minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended condolences to the families of Indian workers killed in a fire in the township of Mangaf in southern Kuwait City. The fire broke out in the kitchen of a six-storey building killing 49 migrant workers of whom 40 were Indians. Dozens were injured and were hospitalised in nearby hospitals.

“The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected,” the Prime Minister said in a post on social media site X.

Meanwhile, the external affairs ministry said that the Prime Minister Modi directed minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh to travel to Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those dead in the fire.

The minister will soon leave for Kuwait to bring back mortal remains on those deceased and help those injured after holding a meeting with the Prime Minister, people familiar with the developments told CNN-News18.

The Kuwaiti authorities have already launched a probe into the incident. The country’s deputy prime minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah visited the site and blamed realtors for their ‘greed’.

“Unfortunately, the greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters,” said Sheikh Fahad, who also runs the interior and defence ministries.

The Kuwaiti envoy to India said his office is following the probe that has been launched into the matter. “We are following the investigations in this matter. His Highness the Emir of the State of Kuwait, demands that the causes of the fire be quickly known and those responsible be held accountable,” Kuwaiti ambassador to India Meshal Mustafa J Alshemali said in a statement.

At least 40 Indians were among the 41 killed on Wednesday in the major fire in the building in Kuwait housing migrant workers. The building was housing over 160 workers and most of them were working for the same company.

The Indian envoy to Kuwait, Adarsh Swaika, visited Al-Adan, Jahra and Farwaniya hospitals where he met with injured workers and assured them of all assistance.

The Indian embassy also set up a helpline to extend assistance to Indian workers who have been affected by the fire.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also extended condolences to the near and dear ones of the deceased workers.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the news that more than 40 people died and many others were injured in the fire is extremely sad. People familiar with the developments told CNN-News18 said that citizens of Kerala are among those who died in the accident. Vijayan’s office citing him said that the chief minister shares the grief with the family members of the deceased.