11 Indians killed in Saudi fire: External Affairs Ministry

New Delhi, July 13: Eleven Indians have been killed in a fire in the southern Saudi city of Najran and the Indian Consulate in Jeddah is providing all assistance to the families of the deceased and those injured in the tragedy, the External Affairs Ministry said today.

Among the Indians killed in the fire, four were from Uttar Pradesh, three from Kerala, one from Bihar, one from Tamil Nadu and details of two others were yet to be ascertained, it said.

Apart from the 11 Indians killed, five Indians were also injured in the blaze that ripped through a windowless house where the workers were staying.

"I am aware of the fire tragedy in Najran in which we have lost 10 Indian nationals and six injured are in the hospital," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

"I have spoken to Consul General Jeddah. Najran is 900 Kms from Jeddah. Our staff is rushing by the first flight available," she said.

"Our Consul General is in touch with the Governor of Najran. He is updating me on regular basis."

Citing authorities, the Saudi Gazette reported that 11 migrant laborers died of asphyxiation in Najran on Wednesday in a fire that engulfed the windowless house they shared, authorities said.

"Firefighters put out the blaze in an old house lacking windows for ventilation. Eleven people died of asphyxiation, and six others were injured," the report quoted Najran Civil Defenve spokesman Abdullah Al-Farie as saying. Najran is a city in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the border with war-torn Yemen.

Details of the five Indians injured in the fire were yet to be ascertained, the MEA said.

IANS