IAF aircraft carrying bodies of 45 Indian victims of Kuwait fire incident arrives in Kerala

New Delhi, June 14: The bodies of 31 victims from the tragic fire in Kuwait’s Mangaf arrived at Cochin International Airport on Friday morning, transported by an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft. The aircraft, carrying the remains of 45 Indians who perished in the blaze, landed at 10:25 AM. Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, who coordinated the swift repatriation efforts, accompanied the flight.

The fire claimed the lives of 50 migrant workers, including 45 Indians, and injured 49 others. Kuwaiti authorities conducted DNA tests to identify the victims. Immigration, customs, and health formalities for all 45 Indians were completed at the airport in Kochi.

Local media reported that the mortal remains of 31 victims—23 from Kerala, seven from Tamil Nadu, and one from Karnataka—were handed over to the authorities in Kochi. The remaining 14 bodies will be transported to Delhi on the same aircraft for domestic flights to their respective destinations.

A press release from the Indian embassy in Kuwait detailed the origins of the deceased: Kerala (23), Tamil Nadu (7), Andhra Pradesh (3), Uttar Pradesh (3), Odisha (2), and one each from Bihar, Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Haryana. Additionally, 33 Indians are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals in Kuwait.

Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, along with other ministers, received the remains at Kochi. The public paid their respects at the Cargo Airport, where Union Minister Suresh Gopi and VD Satheesan were also present. Chief Minister Vijayan emphasized the profound loss to Kerala’s expatriate community, calling the incident a “huge disaster for the country.”

The Chief Minister acknowledged the swift and effective action by the Kuwaiti government and the Indian government’s intervention. He stressed the need for preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future and urged the Kuwaiti government to provide adequate compensation to the victims’ families.

Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh played a crucial role in expediting the repatriation process, coordinating with Kuwaiti authorities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar expressed their deepest condolences and assured comprehensive support to the affected families.