GUWAHATI: Indian Air Force special aircraft C-130J carrying mortal remains of 45 Indian victims of the Kuwait fire incident landed at Kochi airport at 10.30 a.m. today, June 14. The same aircraft will arrive in Delhi at 4 p.m., as some of the victims are from the Northern states as well.
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Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, who had reached Kuwait on Friday morning and coordinated with Kuwaiti authorities to ensure swift repatriation, was also onboard the aircraft, the Indian embassy said earlier.
Kuwaiti authorities have confirmed the identities of 45 Indian nationals and three Filipino citizens among the victims of the devastating fire. The fire engulfed a building housing foreign workers, resulting in the loss of at least 49 lives, with an additional 50 individuals sustaining injuries.
"We have made all the required arrangements for receiving the bodies here. Ambulances have been arranged for each of the victims, and after that, a pilot (vehicle) will be arranged to take the ambulances to the destination. We are expecting bodies of other states also, and accordingly, we are taking the required measures. Family members would be coming here, we are also coordinating with them," Putta Vimaladitya, DIG, Kochi Range, told reporters earlier.
A massive fire erupted in a six-storied building in Mangaf city in Kuwait on Wednesday, killing at least 48 people. Out of the 176 Indian workers in the housing facility, 45 died and 33 are hospitalised, the Indian embassy said.