Kuwait building fire kills at least 49 persons, including 42 Indians

Officials indicate most of the Indian victims are from Kerala

A catastrophic blaze in Kuwait's Mangaf district claimed the lives of 49 individuals, including 42 Indians, early Wednesday morning. The fire engulfed Al-Mangaf building, accommodating approximately 195 migrant labourers. The remaining casualties included Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, and Nepali nationals.

The NBTC group, a construction firm partly owned by an Indian, had rented the building to house over 195 workers, most of them Indians from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and northern states, according to Kuwaiti media.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing the incident as "saddening," reviewed the situation in a meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, and Principal Secretary to the PM PK Mishra.

Key Points

• The NBTC group, a construction firm partly owned by an Indian, had rented the building to house over 195 workers

• Most deaths were due to smoke inhalation, with the fire reportedly starting in a kitchen

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation in a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, and Principal Secretary to the PM PK Mishra