Kuwait fire tragedy: Death toll rises to 50, one more Indian dies, says report

KUWAIT CITY: Reports said the death toll in the Kuwait fire tragedy has touched 50. Kuwaiti media reported that one more Indian who was under treatment has succumbed to his injuries. He has not been identified and the process of identification is progressing.

Meantime, an Air Force plane has left for Kochi with the bodies of the 45 Indians. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh is also in the flight. The new information is that the flight will reach Nedumbassery at 10.30 am.

The bodies of 23 Malayalees, seven from Tamil Nadu and one from Karnataka will be brought to Kochi. The bodies of people from other states will be taken to Delhi. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and ministers will receive the bodies. It will then be taken to their homes in special ambulances. Each ambulance will be accompanied by a pilot vehicle. The ambulances sent by the Tamil Nadu government have reached Nedumbassery.

The Kuwaiti company NBTC has announced an emergency financial assistance of Rs 8 lakh to the families of the dead. Jobs will be given to their dependents. The government in the special cabinet meet convened yesterday decided to give a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the family of the dead and Rs1 lakh each to the injured.

The chief minister informed that prominent businessmen Yusuff Ali and Ravi Pillai have offered a compensation of Rs 5 lakh and 2 lakh each respectively.

The body of Sreejesh Thankappan Nair of Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram, who died in the fire, will be cremated in Edava. The body of Shibu Varghese, native of Alappuzha Payippad, will not be cremated today. The body will be shifted to the mortuary in Thiruvalla.