Kuwait fire: 24 Malayalis among 49 killed, 17 identified | List of Indians killed in Kuwait fire | Fire in Kuwait | Kuwait Mangaf

Thiruvanathapuram: At least 49 people, including 24 Malayalis, were killed in a massive fire in a six-storey building in Mangaf Block in Kuwait's Ahmadi Governorate on Wednesday. The Department of Non-Resident Keralite Affairs (NORKA) confirmed that 24 Keralites were killed in the fire. However, only 17 have been identified so far.

The total number of people killed in the Al-Mangaf building is 49 and 42 of them are believed to be Indian; the rest are Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian and Nepalese nationals. Apart from Keralites, the victims also include people from other Indian states such as Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Of the 35 people placed in intensive care, seven are in a condition considered critical. At least five people are on respiratory assistance. The injured are currently admitted to 5 public hospitals (Adan, Jaber, Farwaniya, Mubarak Al Kabeer and Jahra hospitals) in Kuwait and are receiving appropriate medical care.

Indian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh is making an emergency visit to Kuwait, following a direction from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, primarily to oversee assistance to Indians injured in the fire and ensure speedy repatriation remains of those killed. Authorities informed media that DNA tests would be conducted to identify some of the victims.

List of Keralites who died in the fire:
1. Akash S Nair (23) from Pandalam. Worked in Kuwait for 6 years
2. Umarudheen Shameer (33) from Kollam Pooyappally. He was a driver in Kuwait
3. Stefin Abraham Sabu (29) from Kottayam Pampady. Was an engineer.
4. KR Ranjith (34) from Kundadukam in Cherkala in Chengala panchayat, Kasaragod. He was a trader. Ranjith had lived in Kuwait for 10 years.
5. Kelu Ponmaleri (55) from Kasaragod. He was a production engineer. He is survived by his wife KN Mani, an employee of the Pilicode Panchayat office, and his two sons.
6. P. V. Muraleedharan of Vazhamuttom, Pathanamthitta. I have been working in Kuwait for 30 years. He was the senior supervisor of the manufacturing division
7. Sajan George of Punalur, Kollam. He was a chemical engineer
8. Lukose (48) from Velichikala of Kollam. Worked in Kuwait for 18 years
9. Saju Varghese (56) from Konni
10. Thomas Oommen of Tiruvalla
11. Viswas Krishnan of Dharmadom, Kannur
12. Nooh from Kootayi, Tirur, Malappuram
13. MP Bahulayan from Malappuram
14. Srihari Pradeep from Changanassery, Kottayam
15. Mathew George of Niranam, Pathanamthitta
16. Sibin T Abraham (31) from Keezhvaipur, Pathanamthitta
17. Binoy Thomas from Chavakkad to Thrissur

Other identified Indians
1. Thomas Joseph
2. Praveen Madhav
3. Bhoonath Richard Roy Anand
4. Anil Giri
5. Mohammed Shareef
6. Dwarikesh Patnaik
7. Viswas Krishnan
8. Arun Babu
9. Raymond
10. Jesus Lopez
11. Denny Baby Karunakaran

The Indian Embassy has set up a helpline +965-65505246 (Whatsapp and regular call) for family members to get in touch. Regular updates are provided via the helpline.