- Sunday, February 23, 2025
More than 40 people were killed while many injured in the fire that broke out in a building which belongs to the NBTC group, owned by KG Abraham, a businessman from Kerala.
By: Shubham Ghosh
FORTY Indians were among at least 49 people were killed on Wednesday (12) after a fire broke out in a building in Mangaf city in Ahmadi Governorate of Kuwait where foreign workers lived, Reuters reported. Scores more were injured and were receiving treatments in hospitals.
The nationalities of those who died were not immediately revealed by local authorities. The Indian ambassador visited the site of the fire as well as the hospitals to speak with the injured.
Kuwait’s deputy prime minister accused owners of properties of committing violations that contribute towards such tragedies.
At one hospital, more than 30 Indian citizens were admitted, the Indian embassy in Kuwait wrote on social media.
Several of the deceased Indians were from the southern Indian state of Kerala, a letter written by the state’s chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to India’s foreign minister that was shared with the press, said.
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One Indian report added that around 195 workers were housed in the building and several of them hailed from the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala besides some other parts of India. The building, it added, belongs to the NBTC Group, Kuwait’s biggest construction company, owned by KG Abraham, a businessman from Kerala.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths, tweeting, “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.”
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… https://t.co/cb7GHN6gmX
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2024
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He also convened a high-level meeting at his official residence in New Delhi.
Indian external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said he was “deeply shocked” by the deaths and added the Indian embassy in Kuwait would extend the maximum support to the affected families.
Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information.
Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost…
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 12, 2024
“Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. 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,” he said on X.
The Indian Embassy in Kuwait issued a helpline number and urged those affected to connect over it.
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. https://t.co/RiXrv2oceo
— India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024
Dr Adarsh Swaika, the Indian ambassador to Kuwait, met the injured in the hospital and also went to the site of the accident.
Amb @AdarshSwaika1 visited Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, where 11 workers injured in today’s fire have been admitted. 10 of them are expected to be released today & one in hospital is reportedly stable. He met with patients still in hospital & assured them of Embassy’s full support pic.twitter.com/cAbLhBxspp
— India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024
Amb @AdarshSwaika1 visited the tragic fire-incident site in Mangaf to ascertain the situation. Embassy is in constant touch with relevant Kuwaiti law enforcement, fire-service and health authorities for necessary action and emergency medical health-care. pic.twitter.com/hwTLcqX5Bp
— India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024
Kuwait’s deputy prime minister Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah visited the site and ordered a police probe into the matter. He also asked the police to detain the owner of the building, janitor and employer of the workers who lived there till a criminal investigation into the incident was complete.
