Kuwait City/New Delhi: India's mission in Kuwait is ascertaining the full details from the concerned Kuwaiti authorities on the tragic fire incident in a building in the southern city of Mangaf which killed 49 foreign workers, including around 40 Indians, and injured 50 others, even as officials here started an investigation into one of the worst fires in the Gulf nation.
Head of investigations at Kuwait Fire Department Col Sayed Al-Mousawi said that the team investigating the causes of the fire found that an inflammable material was used as partitions between apartments and also between rooms, which caused the huge black clouds of smoke. He said that many of the victims suffocated while trying to run down the stairs because they were filled with smoke, adding that the victims could not go to the rooftop because the door was locked.
Deputy Premier, Defence and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah ordered the arrest of the Kuwaiti landlord of the building and the Egyptian guard of the building and warned officials not to release them without his permission.
The minister told reporters that the fire was a catastrophe, adding that from Thursday, teams from the municipality will begin inspecting all buildings and have the authority to remove any violation without any warning.
He said authorities would also start from Thursday to study the issue of overcrowding of expat workers in buildings and the failure to comply with safety conditions.
The public prosecution has started an investigation into the fire to uncover the circumstances behind the incident and what might have triggered the deadly inferno, it said on X, praising the state-wide response to the disaster.
There has been no official word on how the blaze started or what caused it. Some local media reported that it could be a gas leak from the building's ground floor.
Kuwait, like other Persian Gulf countries, has a large community of migrant workers who far outnumber the local population. The nation of some 4.2 million people is slightly smaller than the US state of New Jersey but has the world's sixth-largest known oil reserves. A fire at an oil refinery in 2022 killed four people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Indian Embassy in Kuwait was closely monitoring the situation. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "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 also chaired a review meeting on the fire tragedy in Kuwait in which a number of Indian nationals died and many were injured, at his residence in New Delhi.
According to an official release, "The PM expressed his deep sorrow at the unfortunate incident and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. He wished speedy recovery of those injured. The PM directed that Government of India should extend all possible assistance."
The Prime Minister also announced ex- gratia relief of Rs two lakh to the families of the deceased India nationals from Prime Minister Relief Fund.
The Indian Embassy in Kuwait said in a post on X said, "In connection with the tragic fire-accident involving Indian workers today, Embassy has put in place an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246. All concerned are requested to connect over this helpline for updates. Embassy remains committed to render all possible assistance".
Indians constitute 21 per cent (one million) of the total population of Kuwait and 30 per cent of its workforce (approximately nine lakhs).
Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed grief over the incident. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalised. 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."
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said as directed by Prime Minister Modi, Minister of State for External Affairs KV Singh is urgently travelling to Kuwait to oversee help to those injured in fire tragedy.
"In Kuwait, MoS K V Singh to also coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of victims of fire incident," the MEA added.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking the Centre's intervention in the Kuwait fire incident which claimed over 40 lives, including several Malayalees.
Terming the incident as "utmost painful", Vijayan condoled the loss of lives in the tragedy. In a brief message, he said that among the 40 people reportedly killed in the mishap, some were believed to be Malayalees.
In his letter, Vijayan said that he came across reports that a fire had broken out in a camp -- known as NBTC camp -- in Mangaf, Kuwait and many Indians, including some from Kerala, have lost their lives.
The CM also said that according to the reports, many have suffered serious injuries in the "unfortunate incident". "I request your goodself to give necessary directions to the Indian Embassy to coordinate relief and rescue operations by getting in touch with the Government of Kuwait," Vijayan said in his letter to Jaishankar.
The Tamil Nadu government said it is being ascertained if Tamils were among those killed in Kuwait fire. Citing information on the death of 'approximately 49 persons,' in Kuwait fire incident, the state government said in an official release that it is gathering information related to the victims of blaze.
If Tamils were among injured, necessary medical assistance should be provided by getting information on them, Chief Minister M K Stalin has directed the Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non Resident Tamils.
In accordance with the chief minister's instruction, the Commissionerate is taking necessary steps to provide help to Tamils by liaisoning with the Indian Embassy and Tamil associations in Kuwait.
A family in Kerala's Kollam district is praying that the news they received unofficially on Wednesday morning about the tragedy that struck Shameer, their sole breadwinner, in the Kuwait fire incident, is not true.
Shameer, hailing from Vayyankara village, had been working in Kuwait for the past few years. It was at around 11.30 am that his family received information from a friend about the reported tragic death of Shemeer in the fire.
"So far, there has been no official communication, either from the company or the embassy. We learned about the incident through the family of a colleague who was injured in the fire," a family member told reporters.
The Congress also condoled the loss of lives in a major building fire in Kuwait and urged the external affairs ministry to provide all possible assistance to the Indian victims and their families.
The party said the incident showed the "appalling" conditions in which Indian workers live in the Middle East and the government must ensure the complete safety of citizens, including proper housing facilities, for them.
In the wake of the Kuwait fire tragedy, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has called on the government to draft a bill in consultation with all the stakeholders to ensure decent conditions of work and security for the Indian migrant workers.
Tharoor said the tragedy is a reminder of the terrible privations Indian migrant workers undergo in their efforts to support their families at home.
"More than five years ago when I chaired the parliamentary standing committee on External Affairs, I requested the Government to prepare an updated Emigration Bill to ensure decent conditions of work and security for our migrant workers. I am shocked that five years later there is still no Bill," the former minister of state for external affairs said in a post on X.
He urged the government to address this issue at the earliest and draft a "serious bill" in consultation with all stakeholders. "When Indian workers are sent abroad, they must have contractual assurances of decent conditions of life, work, pay & residence before they leave our shores," Tharoor said.
