Amidst the heart-wrenching aftermath of the tragic inferno that engulfed a labor camp in Kuwait, devastating news emerged, pinning down at least 14 souls from Kerala among the deceased, with a staggering number of around 30 injured also hailing from the same region. The calamitous blaze claimed the lives of 49 individuals, casting a somber shadow over the southern city of Mangaf.
In the mournful tally of casualties, the names of the departed Keralites resonate with profound sorrow: Shameer Umaruddin, aged 30, from Sooranad in Kollam; K. Ranjith, 34, representing Chengala in Kasaragod; Kelu Ponmaleri, aged 58, of Pilikode, Kasaragod; Stephin Abraham Sabu, 29, hailing from Pampadi in Kottayam; Akash Sasidharan Nair, 31, native to Pathanamthitta; Sajan George, 29, from Punalur in Kollam; Saju Varghese, aged 56, from Konni in Pathanamthitta; P.V. Muralidharan, 68, a resident of Vazhamuttom in Pathanamthitta; Luka Sabu, 48, from Velichikkala in Kollam; Thomas Oommen, 37, from Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta; Vishwas Krishnan, representing Dharmadam in Kannur; Nooha, from Tirur in Malappuram; Bahuleyan, 36, from Pulamanthol in Thrissur; and Sreehari Pradeep, aged 27, hailing from Changanassery in Kottayam.
As the nation grieves, official arrangements are underway to repatriate the departed souls to India, a solemn journey marked by Air Force aircraft.
In the harrowing aftermath, revelations unfurled by the investigation spearheaded by Head of Investigations at Kuwait Fire Department, Col Sayed Al-Mousawi, shed light on the calamity’s grim genesis. The use of inflammable materials as partitions between apartments and rooms birthed ominous clouds of smoke, ensnaring many victims in a suffocating embrace as they sought escape down the stairwells. Tragically, the door to the rooftop, a potential refuge, lay bolted, sealing the fate of those trapped within.
In response to the grievous negligence, Deputy Premier, Defence, and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah issued swift directives, commanding the apprehension of the Kuwaiti landlord and the Egyptian guard of the ill-fated building. Firm in his resolve, he warned against any premature release, reserving the authority solely to his command.