MoS Suresh Gopi to fulfil dream of Kuwait fire tragedy victim Benoy Thomas

KOCHI: Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi on Friday promised to build a house for Kuwait fire tragedy victim Benoy Thomas, a native of Chavakkad in Thrissur. Suresh Gopi condoled the deaths and said that the victims were not just the natives of Kerala but the ‘Children of Bharat’.

"It is a very sad situation. The State and the nation are always indebted to the expatriate community. Ever since the information about the accident came to light, the central government has efficiently coordinated the affairs. After it was realized that most of the dead were Indians, efforts were started to bring the dead bodies home." Suresh Gopi told the media.

Benoy Thomas went to Kuwait on the 5th of this month. His sole dream was to enlarge and refurbish the one-room house built under the three-cent PMAY scheme. On 6th June, Benoy resumed work as a packing employee at HyperMart. But just two days back, the family of Benoy were drawn to silence and despair when his friend Ben dialled home to confirm the death news.

Benoy Thomas (44), son of Thomas Babu in Tiruvalla, after marrying got settled in Chavakkad. Even then, Benoy kept the bonhomie with his hometown intact. The family lived in a rented house for seven years. Later, he bought three cents of land and built a modest house with one room. Earlier, he worked as an employee in a shoe shop in Pavaratti.

Expatriate Welfare Board Chairman KV Abdul Khader had informed that Benoy was missing after the fire in his flat in Kuwait. His family also informed him that Benoy was online till two in the morning on the day of the fire. Benoy leaves behind his mother Annamma Thomas. Wife: Jinita. Children: Adi, Ian.