External affairs minister S Jaishankar held discussions with Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, his Kuwaiti counterpart, in the wake of the devastating fire that claimed the lives of over 40 Indian nationals in Kuwait.
During the conversation, Jaishankar emphasised the need for the swift return of the mortal remains of those who perished in the tragic event.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Spoke to Kuwaiti FM Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya on the fire tragedy in Kuwait. Apprised of the efforts made by Kuwaiti authorities in that regard. Was assured that the incident would be fully investigated and that responsibility will be fixed."
He urged the early repatriation of the mortal remains of those who lost their lives. He also emphasised that those injured were getting the requisite medical attention.
"We will review the situation after MoS @KVSinghMPGonda reaches Kuwait tomorrow," he added.
Earlier, the MEA, in a statement, said that minister of state Kirti Vardhan Singh is immediately travelling to Kuwait on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi "to work towards early repatriation of mortal remains as well as for medical assistance to those injured."
The Embassy of India in Kuwait remains in constant communication with local authorities to provide relief to those affected by this tragic event. A dedicated helpline, +965-65505246 (available via WhatsApp and regular calls), has been established by the Embassy to assist family members seeking information and support. The helpline will be regularly updated with the latest information.
Earlier, PM Modi described the fire incident as "saddening" and held a meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra, and principal secretary to the PM PK Mishra to review the situation.
"The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected," PM Modi said on X.
PMO released a statement noting that PM Modi expressed deep sorrow over the "unfortunate incident" and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. He announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh to each of the families of the deceased Indian nationals from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.
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