Over 49 people lost their lives, and more than 50 were injured in a building fire incident in the city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait on Wednesday. Among the 49 killed, 41 were Indian nationals, including 11 from Kerala, according to Reuters.
- PM Modi announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh to the families of deceased Indian nationals from the Prime Minister Relief Fund.
- The External Affairs team will leave for Kuwait on Thursday to take stock of the situation and see those injured currently being treated in hospital. PM Modi directed MoS MEA Kirti Vardhan Singh to travel to Kuwait urgently to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting to review the situation.
#WATCH | Delhi: On returning from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, PM Narendra Modi held a meeting to review the situation relating to the fire incident in Kuwait. pic.twitter.com/1DFNcwAOD4
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) June 12, 2024
- Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah demanded to probe the cause of the fire in Kuwait’s Mangaf city which killed at least 49 persons and vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the tragedy.
- The Indian embassy in Kuwait issued a helpline number following the fire accident involving Indian workers. The embassy assured all possible assistance and provided the emergency helpline number: +965-65505246.
- Those injured are presently admitted to 5 government hospitals (Adan, Jaber, Farwaniya, Mubarak Al Kabeer and Jahra hospitals) in Kuwait and receiving proper medical care and attention, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the fire incident in Kuwait which took place early Wednesday.
- PM Modi expressed his sadness over the fire mishap in Kuwait City adding that his thoughts are with the family and close ones of the victims of the incident.
- He further assured that the Indian embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the concerned authorities for further assistance.
- “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,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
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… https://t.co/cb7GHN6gmX
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2024
- A fire broke out in a building housing workers in the city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait early on Wednesday.
- The Indian ambassador to Kuwait, Adarsh Swaika visited the Al-Adan hospital where over 30 Indian workers are being treated.
Amb @AdarshSwaika1 visited Jahra Hospital, where 6 workers, understood to be Indians, injured in today’s fire incident, have been admitted. They are reportedly stable. Another 6 are expected to be shifted to Jahra hospital today from Mangaf site. pic.twitter.com/PpJnoNAAtG
— India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024
- The ambassador also visited Farwaniya Hospital, where six workers, who are expected to be mostly Indians, who got injured in the fire incident were admitted.
- Among those six, the hospital authorities confirmed that four of them have been released, one has shifted to Jahra Hospital and one in the ward is stable now.
- Moreover, envoy Swaik also paid a visit to Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, where reportedly, 11 injured workers were admitted. Earlier today, the Indian envoy also visited the incident site in Mangaf to ascertain the situation and emphasised that the embassy is in touch with the concerned authorities for necessary action.
- Further, the Indian embassy has also put an emergency helpline number and has urged all the concerned people to connect over the helpline for updates.
- Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also expressed shock over the deaths of over 40 people in a fire in the city of Kuwait.
- Jaishankar further expressed condolences to the victims’ families and wished the injured people early and full recovery.
- “Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard,” he added in his post.
- After this tragic incident, Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad al-Yousuf al-Sabah paid a visit to the site and ordered the arrest of the building’s owner, as per Al Jazeera.
Fire broke out in a building housing workers in Kuwait’s Mangaf region on Wednesday. According to Kuwaiti state media and police sources, 40 individuals died as a result of the incident and 50 have been hospitalised. The incident was reported to the authorities at 6:00 a.m. local time (0300 GMT), Major General Eid Rashed Hamad said in a conversation with Reuters.
“The building in which the fire occurred was used to house workers, and there was a large number of workers there. Dozens were rescued, but unfortunately, there were many deaths as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire,” another senior police commander told state TV, a report from Reuters stated.
In addition, the senior police commander stated, “We always alert and warn against” packing too many workers into housing units, failing to specify the nature of the jobs or the origins of the workers.
As per the Kuwait health ministry around 50 people were hospitalised due to the fire and four of these people succumbed to their injuries. It wasn’t clear that the four fatalities were in addition to the 40 people killed as per Reuters. The authorities said that they contained the fire and were investigating the reasons which might have caused the fire.
Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information.
Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost…
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 12, 2024
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a tweet said ” Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait City. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information. Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard”.
(With ANI Inputs)
