In a tragic incident in Kuwait, 45 Indians lost their lives in a fire at a multi-storey building. The bodies of 31 individuals from southern states were transported to Kochi International Airport on Friday morning. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, along with Union and State Ministers, paid their respects to the deceased. An Indian Air Force plane arrived at the airport at 10:30 am, carrying the bodies of the Indian nationals who perished in the Kuwait fire.
Out of the 45 victims, 31 were brought to Kochi by an Indian Air Force C-130J transport aircraft. Subsequently, the aircraft departed for Delhi with the remaining 14 bodies. Among those who died in the fire, 23 were from Kerala, seven from Tamil Nadu, and one from Karnataka. Chief Minister Vijayan stated that the NRIs are vital to Kerala and the loss of a significant number of expatriates in the fire is a major tragedy for the country and the migrant community.
Families mourning the loss of their loved ones in the Kuwait fire gathered at the Kochi airport to receive the bodies. The death toll increased to 46 after another laborer succumbed to injuries caused by the fire. The fire, which resulted from a short circuit in the building's guard room, claimed the lives of a total of 50 individuals.
Chief Minister Vijayan and the Congress-led opposition criticized the Center for denying permission to Kerala Health Minister Veena George to visit Kuwait. Governor Arif Mohammad Khan supported the decision, questioning the purpose of George's visit since the bodies were scheduled to arrive on Friday.
Despite the state government's intention to send George to assist with relief efforts, including medical treatment and repatriation of the deceased, the visit was not permitted.
