In a poignant scene at Cochin International Airport in Kerala, the Indian Air Force aircraft touched down, bearing the mortal remains of 45 Indian nationals who tragically lost their lives in a devastating fire in Kuwait’s Mangaf district on June 12. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, resulted in at least 50 fatalities and 33 injuries, highlighting the risks faced by migrant workers in the Gulf region. The deceased, who were part of the Indian expatriate community, included 23 individuals from Kerala, 7 from Tamil Nadu, and others from various states such as Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Karnataka .The arrival of the aircraft was met with an outpouring of grief from the mourning families and a sorrowful gathering, as state and central ministers, including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, paid their respects. Junior Foreign Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh, who coordinated the repatriation efforts with Kuwaiti authorities, accompanied the bodies on their final journey home. Ambulances were arranged to transport each of the victims to their respective homes for the last rites.The Indian government has announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for the injured. The Kerala Chief Minister described the loss of so many Indian expatriates as a ‘huge disaster for the country’ and urged the Kuwaiti government to take measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The Kuwaiti Emir has ordered an immediate investigation into the cause of the fire, vowing to hold those responsible accountable.
Key points
- The Indian Air Force aircraft carrying the mortal remains of 45 Indian nationals who died in a Kuwait fire tragedy has landed in Kochi, Kerala.
- The fire resulted in at least 50 deaths and 33 injuries, with the largest number of victims hailing from Kerala.
- Compensation has been announced by the Indian government for the families of the deceased and the injured.
- The Kuwaiti Emir has ordered an investigation into the fire, and measures are being sought to prevent future incidents.
