IAF Flight Carrying Mortal Remains Of 45 Indians Who Died In Kuwait Fire Reaches Kerala

The IAF aircraft which carried the mortal remains of 45 Indian victims who died in the tragic Kuwait fire, has reached Cochin airport. The flight is bound for Delhi now.

Kirti Vardhan Singh, Gonda MP and newly-appointed junior minister in the foreign ministry, was also on board and returned in the same flight.

Photo Credit: PTI

"A special IAF aircraft carrying mortal remains of 45 Indian victims in the fire incident in Kuwait has taken off for Kochi. MoS @KVSinghMPGonda, who coordinated with Kuwaiti authorities ensuring swift repatriation, is onboard the aircraft," said the Indian embassy in Kuwait.

Ambulances are on standby at Cochin airport, ready to handle the arrival of the deceased. Visuals circulating online depict the preparations at the airport, reported NDTV.

What happened?

The fire, which broke out in a six-storied building on Wednesday, resulted in at least 48 fatalities. Among the 176 Indian workers residing in the housing facility, 45 lost their lives, while 33 are hospitalised. The remaining workers are reportedly safe.

The victims hail from various Indian states: 23 from Kerala, seven from Tamil Nadu, three from Uttar Pradesh, two from Odisha, and one each from Bihar, Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Haryana.

During his visit to Kuwait, Singh visited five hospitals where the injured Indian workers are receiving treatment. According to hospital authorities, these workers will be discharged based on their health conditions.

Singh also met with Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah, who pledged full support and assistance in the prompt repatriation of the bodies.

The bodies were severely charred, necessitating DNA testing to confirm their identities, Singh informed. Among the identified bodies, 45 are Indians and three are Filipino nationals, according to a statement by Al-Sabah.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has reviewed the incident, announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those who died in the fire. Meanwhile, the local administration in Kuwait is investigating how over 160 people were accommodated in the building.