Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and acting Interior Minister, Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah speaks with Kuwaiti police officers in front of a burnt building following a deadly fire, in Mangaf, southern Kuwait, on June 12, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The Kuwaiti government will give $15,000 each to the families of the victims of the devastating fire that killed 50 people, including 46 Indians, in the southern Ahmadi Governorate, according to a media report on June 18.

The massive fire which occurred at a seven-storey building in the city of Mangaf on July 12 was caused by an electrical short circuit in the guard’s room on the structure’s ground floor, according to Kuwaiti authorities.

The building was home to 196 migrant workers, mostly Indians.

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On the orders of the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the victims’ families will receive compensation amounting to $15,000 each, the Arab Times newspaper reported.

Citing government sources, the newspaper said the compensation payments will be processed and delivered to the victims’ embassies.

Three other deceased were Filipinos, and the identity of one of the victims has not been established.

The concerned embassies will then ensure that the funds are distributed to the families of those affected by the fire, expediting the process and ensuring that the assistance reaches the victims’ families promptly and efficiently, it said.

“This financial aid aims to support the bereaved families during this difficult time,” the newspaper said.

Kuwait’s public prosecutor has launched an investigation into the incident. The probe aims to uncover the circumstances behind the incident, and what might have triggered the deadly fire, the public prosecutor said on X.

A Kuwaiti citizen and several foreigners have been arrested in connection with charges of manslaughter and causing injuries due to negligence in security and safety measures following the fire incident.

Kuwait City:

Kuwait’s emir on Saturday named a new crown prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah, state media reported, just six months after taking over the throne and weeks after suspending parliament.

The 71-year-old sheikh was the Gulf state’s foreign minister from 2011 to 2019 and then prime minister until 2022.

Kuwait entered new political turbulence in May when the 83-year-old emir, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, dissolved parliament just six weeks after elections. He also suspended some provisions of the constitution.

He then named the second government since he took over as head of state in December.

Unlike other Gulf states, Kuwait has an influential parliament while most power remains with the royal family.

While lawmakers have powers their regular battles with the government causes repeat crises.

Kuwait has about seven percent of global oil reserves and one of the world’s biggest sovereign wealth funds. But it has struggled in recent years to diversify its economy away from reliance on oil.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chennai:

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday requested the Centre to secure through diplomatic channels the release of four fishermen from the state detained by the Kuwait Coastal Police.

The men belonging to Ramanthapuram district have been incarcerated in the prison there since their arrest on December 5, last year and Chief Minister M K Stalin had already flagged their arrest and demanded their immediate release, state Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena said.

In a release, he reminded that the chief minister had in a letter dated February 9, sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in ensuring the release of the fishermen by initiating diplomatic efforts.

“Since the men have not been released despite the state government’s repeated insistence, the Chief Secretary wrote a reminder letter to the External Affairs Secretary in this regard,” the release said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)