At least 42 Indians were among those killed in a fire that broke out in a seven-storey building in Mangaf, southern Kuwait, on Wednesday. The massive blaze in Kuwait has killed 49 people, mostly Indian workers, and is said to be the worst building fire in the country's history, sparking a tough crackdown by local authorities on housing violations. The incident is the worst building fire in Kuwait's history, and has prompted calls for action against landlords and managers who "illegally house large numbers of foreign workers in highly dangerous conditions to save money," the Kuwait Times reported. Sheikh Fahad Al Yousuf Al Sabah, Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, said authorities would begin inspecting homes from Thursday and would take action against violators without warning. The owner of the building where the fire occurred will be detained until an investigation is completed, he said.
Al-Sabah newspaper said Kuwaiti labour authorities would investigate overcrowding in buildings and non-compliance with safety conditions by foreign workers.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, who was due to travel to Kuwait by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to oversee the relief efforts and facilitate the speedy repatriation of the bodies, left New Delhi on Thursday morning.
"Most of the victims suffered burn injuries and some of the bodies are charred beyond recognition," Singh told media, adding that DNA tests were being conducted to identify the bodies. An Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft was ready to transport the bodies, he said.
The injured were taken to five public hospitals in Kuwait and the Ministry of External Affairs quoted hospital authorities as saying that most patients were in stable condition.
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June 13, 2024 at 11:17AM
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