Kochi: Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh reached Kuwait on Thursday in the wake of a fire tragedy that claimed at least 49 lives, including 19 from Kerala natives out of 42 Indians.
He said that some bodies were charred beyond recognition.
The minister said that the Prime Minister had chaired a meeting last evening to discuss the tragedy.
DNA tests are underway to identify the victims. As soon as the identities are established, they will be flown back home in an Air Force plane, media reports said.
The Indian envoy visited hospitals where injured were being treated.
Wednesday’s fire in a residence for workers, in Al-Ahmadi governorate, Kuwait led to the death of 49 persons, most of whom died in their sleep due to inhaling sleep. Others victims were from Egypt, Nepal, Pakistan and Philippines.
Local authorities have detained the building’s owner to investigate the fire.
Kerala’s cabinet on Thursday decided to provide ₹5 lakh to the next of kin of the victims who lost their lives in the fire.
The cabinet approved ₹1 lakh for the injured.
Entrepreneurs M A Yusuff Ali and Ravi Pillai have offered ₹5 lakh to the kin of those who lost their lives and ₹2 lakh to the injured.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George and state mission director (NHM) Jeevan Babu are traveling to Kuwait.
The state has set up a global contact center and help desk at NORKA in Kuwait.
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