Fact News Service
New Delhi, June 14
Kerala’s Health Minister, Veena George, expressed frustration on Friday as she revealed that the central government had denied her permission to travel to Kuwait to assist in coordinating aid for Indian nationals from Kerala affected by the tragic fire in Mangaf, Kuwait’s southern city. As preparations were made at Kochi’s import cargo terminal to receive the bodies of the 45 Indians who lost their lives in the fire, an air of solemnity hung over the area.
An Indian Air Force aircraft, C-130J, carrying the mortal remains of the 45 Indian victims, touched down in Kochi on Friday morning. Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, who had arrived in Kuwait earlier in the day, was also on board the aircraft. He had worked closely with Kuwaiti authorities to expedite the repatriation process, according to the Indian embassy.
“It is deeply unfortunate that our request to travel to Kuwait was denied. A significant number of those who perished hailed from Kerala, and the majority of the injured are also from our state,” Veena George lamented to reporters at Cochin International Airport. Following an emergency Cabinet meeting convened by the Kerala government on Thursday, it was announced that Veena George, accompanied by State Mission Director (NHM) Jeevan Babu, would urgently travel to Kuwait to oversee efforts related to the treatment of injured individuals from Kerala and the repatriation of deceased bodies. Among the victims, 24 were from Kerala.
George expressed frustration with the lack of specific data provided by the embassy regarding the number of seriously injured individuals. “Our information indicates that a total of seven individuals have been hospitalized, with four of them from Kerala. However, this has not been officially confirmed. My intention in visiting Kuwait was to support the injured and bring their needs to the attention of the Central Government,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi praised the Ministry of External Affairs for their effective coordination in ensuring treatment for the Indians injured in the Kuwait fire tragedy. Kerala’s Revenue Minister, K Rajan, informed reporters that the bodies of 23 Malayalees, seven Tamilians, and one individual from Karnataka would be received in Kochi before being transported to Delhi along with the remains of other Indian victims. Minister Gopi announced the cancellation of his scheduled events for the day, opting instead to go to the international airport to pay respects to those who lost their lives in the tragic incident.
