The fire in a residential building in Kuwait claimed the lives of almost 50 people, most of them Indians. Indian government officials were rushed to the country to oversee operations to rescue the injured and repatriate the bodies of those who have died. While details of the accident continue to emerge, initial investigations have reportedly revealed the whys and hows of the case.
Almost 24 hours have gone by since the deadly fire wreaked havoc in Kuwait’s Mangaf city and since then Minister of State of MEA Kirti Vardhan Singh has visited the hospital where the injured Indians are admitted and extended full support of the Indian government. Meanwhile, Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George is also likely to pay a visit to Kuwait after reports suggested that 25 out of the 40 Indian victims were Malyalees.
Among the others who died from the fire were people, mostly workers, from Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt and Nepal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the day the fire was reported, held a review meeting and announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for the injured.
Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has vowed to punish those responsible for the fire as he ordered a probe into the accident.
How did the victims die?
According to a report by the Times of India, most of the victims died in sleep after they inhaled smoke from the fire.
Some individuals leaped out of the building at the time of the fire but could not survive the fall while others were evacuated timely.
MoS Singh, earlier today, said that some of the bodies were charred beyond recognition and that a DNA test would be conducted to identify them following which they will be brought back to India via an Indian Air Force plane.
What caused the fire?
Preliminary investigation suggests that the fire was caused by a short circuit and had started in a kitchen on the ground floor of the six-storey building.
Officials said that the building housed some 200 people who were all workers from the same company.
It was not long before the fire in the kitchen spread rapidly to other floors.
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Dead in sleep, jumped off building: How Indians lost their lives in Kuwait fire
