Special IAF plane bring back Mortal remains of Kuwaiti fire victim
Death
5 min read
Two Indian Air Force special planes brought back the mortal remains of the 45 Indian immigrant workers who died in a massive fire which destroyed the apartment building in which they were staying in Kuwait. One IAF C-130J Super Hercules transport landed at Cochin. International Airport, Kerala and the second landed at Palam Technical Airport, New Delhi on 14 June 2024.
The Narendra Modi government had sent the Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, to coordinate with the Kuwaiti government to bring back the mortal remains of the Indians and ensure the well-being of those injured.
Devastating Fire in Kuwaiti Labour Housing Facility
A devastating fire ripped through a labour housing facility in the Mangaf area of the Ahmadi Governorate in Kuwait on 12 June 2024. All the 49 people who were killed worked for the Kuwaiti company NBTC. Out of the 49 people killed, 41 were Indian and three Filipinos. Amongst the Indians killed, the maximum were from Kerala 23, seven from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and one each from Jharkhand, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
According to the Kuwaiti government, an electric circuit malfunction, possibly in the kitchen, caused the fire. Many of the deaths were due to smoke inhalation and the resultant asphyxiation. Many of the facilities where the immigrant workers are housed in West Asia, including Kuwait, are poorly maintained and lack the necessary infrastructure.
Compensation announced for the fire victim
The government of India has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family members of the Indians killed. The Kerala government has also announced Rs 5 lakhs for the families of the killed and Rs one lakh for the injured.
The Kuwaiti company NBTC announced 8 lakh rupees as ex gratia payment for the family of each labourer killed in the fire.
Indians in Kuwait
According to the Union External Affairs Ministry, there are around one million Indians living in Kuwait.
Indians constitute the largest immigrant community in Kuwait. Many of the Indians employed in Kuwait are professionals like engineers, doctors, management consultants, architects, chartered accountants, scientists, software experts, technicians and nurses, retail traders and businessmen. However, a large proportion of the Indians working in Kuwait are unskilled and semiskilled workers.
About Kuwait
Kuwait is a Muslim Arab country located in the Arabian peninsula along the Persian Gulf in Asia.
The country is rich in petroleum oil and has one of the highest per capita income in the world.
Kuwait is a kingdom or emirate which is ruled by the Al Sabah family.
Capital: Kuwait City
Currency: Kuwaiti Dinar
King or Emir: Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah
Prime Minister: Sheikh Mohammad Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah
