THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India – The bodies of 45 Indians who died in a fire at a labor housing facility in Kuwait were flown back to India on Friday. Bereaved relatives and experts have urged New Delhi to increase efforts to protect the lives of those working abroad and sending remittances home.
The fire, which occurred on Wednesday in Mangaf, a coastal city south of Kuwait City, was likely caused by an electrical short circuit. The Indian workers were among 49 people who perished in the blaze, with another 33 receiving treatment in hospitals.
Television footage showed bereaved families waiting at the airport to receive the bodies of their loved ones. Upon arrival, the coffins were placed with photographs of the deceased on separate tables in the airport’s cargo complex. Families, friends, ministers, and officials paid homage, and the police provided a guard of honor.
Of the 45 deceased, 23 were from the southern Indian state of Kerala. Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, called the accident “a national tragedy.” He stated, “This is the biggest tragedy involving migrants. We consider the migrants as our lifeline. It’s a big loss to the state.”
Millions of foreign workers form the majority of the labor force in Kuwait and some other Gulf nations, often living in overcrowded conditions. On Thursday, Kuwaiti prosecutors ordered the remand of one citizen and several residents on manslaughter charges due to safety negligence at the building. The Indian foreign ministry said 176 workers resided in the facility.
In addition to the Indian casualties, three Filipino workers died, and two more are in critical condition, according to the Philippine migrant workers ministry. Local authorities have not disclosed the specific employment of the workers, although Kuwait, like other Gulf states, relies heavily on foreign labor in industries such as construction.
Approximately 13 million Indians work abroad, with over 60% in Gulf nations. Kuwait hosts nearly 850,000 Indian workers, making it the third highest country for Indian labor. The Indian foreign ministry claims to have a “robust mechanism” for monitoring working conditions abroad, but commentators argue that more needs to be done.
The Kuwait fire “is a reminder of the dismal working conditions of a large, and often ignored, section of the Indian diaspora,” stated the Indian Express in an editorial on Friday.