- विज्ञापन -
Cochin: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan paid floral tributes to the bodies of the victims of the fire tragedy in Kuwait, who arrived at the Cochin International Airport on Friday.
At least 45 Indians were killed in the fire incident, and 31 bodies of victims from Kerala (23), Tamil Nadu (7), and Karnataka (1) were brought via a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force to Kerala’s Kochi on Friday.
The special IAF aircraft landed at around 10.30 am at Cochin International Airport on Friday.
Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, State Ministers Veena George, P Rajeev, K Rajan, and Roshi Augustin, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, and Union Minister Suresh Gopi also paid tributes to the victims. The bodies of the victims were kept on tables arranged outside the airport cargo terminal.
Mortal remains to arrive Cochin
The mortal remains of victims of Kuwait building fire will be reaching India today. A special aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) carrying the mortal remains of 31 victims of the major fire in a Kuwait building will land at the Cochin International Airport in Kerala on Friday morning. Out of 31 mortal remains arriving, 23 are from Kerala.
Kerala Minister K Rajan said, “The aircraft is expected to arrive here at around 10. All arrangements are made to receive the bodies. As more victims are from Kerala, upon our request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this special aircraft carrying 31 victims–23 from Kerala, 7 from Tamil Nadu, and one from Karnataka will be arriving in Nedumbassery today.”
Ernakulam Range DIG Putta Vimaladitya said that all the required arrangements have been made to receive the bodies at the airport.
He further said that out of the 31 bodies, 23 victims are from Kerala, seven from Tamil Nadu, and one from Karnataka.
“We have coordinated with the family members of the victims. Once the bodies are received, they will be properly escorted to their respective places.” Vimaladitya said while speaking to ANI at the Cochin airport today.
A dedicated vehicle will be provided for each body, the DIG said.
The special IAF aircraft is expected to arrive at the Cochin airport at around 10.20 am. Heavy police force and ambulances have been deployed at the airport in Kochi.
State Ministers K Rajan and Roshi Augustin will be present at the airport to receive the bodies. Speaking to reporters at the airport, Minister Roshi Augustin said, “It’s an unpleasant situation. We have made the arrangements for dedicated pilots.”
Ernakulam Collector NSK Umesh told ANI that exclusive ambulances have been arranged for each of the bodies. “We will ensure smooth transport of the bodies to their homes,” he said.
At least 45 Indians died in the huge fire that broke out in a labour accommodation in Kuwait’s Mangaf on June 12. This includes 23 from Kerala, seven from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and one each from Bihar, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Punjab and West Bengal.
