In a tragic turn of events, a residential block in the Kuwaiti city of Mangaf was engulfed in a devastating fire, leading to the loss of at least 49 lives. The fire broke out in the early hours of Wednesday, quickly spreading through the six-storey building.
The building, primarily housing migrant workers, was home to 196 residents. Among the victims were at least 40 Indians, many of whom hailed from the southern Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The fire has also left around 50 Indians injured. Workers from the Philippines and Nepal were also among the injured.
The fire reportedly started in the kitchen of one of the lower floors around 4:30 am and rapidly spread to all the floors. Social media was flooded with harrowing videos showing flames engulfing the lower part of the building and thick black smoke billowing from the upper floors.
Local authorities were quick to respond, with firefighters managing to rescue dozens of people. However, the high number of casualties is believed to be due to smoke inhalation. The fire was later brought under control.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the living conditions of migrant workers in Kuwait. Human rights groups have regularly voiced concerns over the cramped and often unsafe living conditions of these workers. The building in question is suspected to have been overcrowded.
Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf al-Sabah visited the site and ordered an inquiry into the fire incident. He accused property owners of greed and said violations of building standards had led to the tragedy. “Unfortunately the greed of the property owners is what led to this,” Sheikh al-Sabah said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims and their families. “The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening,” he said. “My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest.”
The Indian embassy is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities on the ground. Kirti Vardhan Singh, a junior minister in the government who left for Kuwait on Thursday morning, said DNA tests were being carried out to identify the victims.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to safety standards and regulations, especially in buildings housing large numbers of people. As investigations continue, the hope is that lessons will be learned to prevent such a disaster from happening again.
Keywords: Kuwait, fire, residential block, migrant workers, Indians, casualties, safety standards, overcrowding, Sheikh Fahad Yusuf al-Sabah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kirti Vardhan Singh, investigations.
