NEW DELHI: A severe fire erupted at a labor housing facility in Kuwait’s Mangaf area on Wednesday, claiming the lives of around 40 Indians and injuring over 50 others, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Embassy is actively seeking detailed information from the pertinent Kuwaiti authorities and the involved company.
“The Ministry of External Affairs expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased in their statement.”
A total of 49 people lost their lives in the Al-Mangaf building incident. Among the victims, 42 were Indian nationals, while the others included individuals from Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt, and Nepal.
The injured are being treated and cared for at five government hospitals in Kuwait: Adan, Jaber, Farwaniya, Mubarak Al Kabeer, and Jahra. Hospital authorities report that most of the patients are in stable condition.
Following the incident, Shri Adarsh Swaika, the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, quickly visited the fire site and hospitals to check on the affected Indian nationals. The Embassy is closely coordinating with local authorities to aid the injured Indian nationals and provide all necessary support. Throughout this process, the Kuwaiti authorities have been fully cooperative with the Embassy.
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directives, MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh will promptly travel to Kuwait. His main goals are to expedite the repatriation of the deceased and to ensure that the injured receive the required medical care, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is continuously liaising with local authorities to offer assistance to those impacted by this tragic event. To aid family members in obtaining information and support, the Embassy has set up a dedicated helpline at +965-65505246, accessible through WhatsApp and regular calls. This helpline will be regularly updated with the latest information.
Prime Minister Modi previously referred to the fire incident as “saddening” and convened a meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, and Principal Secretary to the PM PK Mishra to assess the situation.
“The fire incident in Kuwait City is tragic. My sympathies are with those who have lost loved ones, and I hope for a swift recovery for the injured. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is actively monitoring the situation and collaborating with local authorities to support those affected,” stated PM Modi on X (formerly Twitter).
The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement in which PM Modi conveyed profound sorrow over the “unfortunate incident” and offered condolences to the families of the deceased. He announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to each family of the deceased Indian nationals from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
