Over 40 people, majority of them Indians, were killed in a devastating fire in a building housing labourers in southern Kuwait and the number of deceased is expected to go up, officials said on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the fire incident as "saddening" and said the Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation.
"The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. 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 in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected," Modi said on X.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed deep shock over the incident and said the Indian embassy in the Gulf nation will render the "fullest assistance" to all concerned.
Indian ambassador to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika visited several hospitals including where the injured have been admitted.
"Amb @AdarshSwaika visited the Al-Adan hospital where over 30 Indian workers injured in today's fire incident have been admitted. He met a number of patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy," the Indian embassy said on X. "Almost all are reported to be stable by hospital authorities," it said.
Kuwait's health ministry said the injured were admitted to several hospitals, with 21 of them sent to Al-Adan Hospital, six to Farwaniya hospital, one to Al-Amiri and 11 to Mubarak hospital.
Interior minister of Kuwait Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah ordered an investigation into the fire incident and issued directions to apprehend the owner and janitor of Al-Mangaf building.
"What happened today is a result of the greed of company and building owners," Al-Sabah was quoted as saying by Kuwait Times.
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