India’s foreign ministry said that at least 40 Indians are among 49 people killed in a fire at a residential building in the Kuwaiti city of Mangaf.

On Wednesday the fire broke out in a building where dozens of workers stayed.

Authorities said many of the casualties are from the southern Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Around 50 Indians have also been injured.

A senior police officer said that there were a large number of people in building at the time of the fire.

“Dozens were rescued, but unfortunately there were many deaths as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire, adding that warnings were often issued about overcrowding in this type of accommodation.” Said the senior police.

Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf al-Sabah accused property owners of greed and said violations of building standards had led to the tragedy.

Sheikh al –Sabah, who is also acting interior minister, said that unfortunately the greed of the property owners is what led to this.

Interior Ministry spokesman Maj-Gen Eid al-Oweihan said that the fire was reported at 06:00 LOCAL TIME (03:00 GMT) on Wednesday. It was later brought under control.

Kirti Vardhan Singh, a junior minister in the government who left for Kuwait on Thursday morning said DNA test were being carried out to identify the victims.

He also said that an Air Force plane is on the ready. As soon as the bodies are identified, the kin will be informed and our Air Force plane will bring the boodies back.

 

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