A devastating fire engulfed a six-storeyed building in the Mangaf block of Kuwait's Ahmadi Governorate on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 49 people, including 14 Malayalis.

Out of the 49 fatalities in the Al-Mangaf building, 42 were Indians, while the remaining victims were Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, and Nepali nationals. The casualties also included people from other Indian states such as Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Currently, 35 individuals are under intensive care, with seven reported to be in critical condition. Five are on ventilator support. The injured are being treated in five government hospitals in Kuwait: Adan, Jaber, Farwaniya, Mubarak Al Kabeer, and Jahra hospitals.

India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, is traveling to Kuwait following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's directive. Singh's primary objectives are to assist the injured Indians and facilitate the repatriation of the deceased's remains. Authorities have announced that DNA testing will be conducted to identify some victims.

List of Keralites Who Perished in the Fire:

1. Akash S Nair (23) from Pandalam - Worked in Kuwait for 6 years.
2. Umarudheen Shameer (33) from Kollam Pooyappally - A driver in Kuwait.
3. Stefin Abraham Sabu (29) from Kottayam Pampady - An engineer.
4. KR Ranjith (34) from Kundadukam, Kasaragod - A store-keeper in Kuwait for 10 years.
5. Kelu Ponmaleri (55) from Kasaragod - A production engineer, survived by his wife K N Mani and two sons.
6. P V Muraleedharan from Vazhamuttom, Pathanamthitta - Worked in Kuwait for 30 years as a senior supervisor in the fabrication division.
7. Sajan George from Punalur, Kollam - A chemical engineer.
8. Lukose (48) from Velichikala, Kollam - Worked in Kuwait for 18 years.
9. Saju Varghese (56) from Konni.
10. Thomas Oommen from Tiruvalla.
11. Viswas Krishnan from Dharmadom, Kannur.
12. Nooh from Kootayi, Tirur, Malappuram.
13. MP Bahulayan from Malappuram.
14. Srihari Pradeep from Changanassery, Kottayam.

Other Indians Identified:

1. Thomas Joseph
2. Praveen Madhav
3. Bhoonath Richard Roy Anand
4. Anil Giri
5. Muhammad Shareef
6. Dwarikesh Patnaik
7. Viswas Krishnan
8. Arun Babu
9. Raymond
10. Jesus Lopez
11. Denny Baby Karunakaran

The Indian Embassy has set up a helpline at +965-65505246 (available for WhatsApp and regular calls) for family members seeking information. Regular updates are being provided through this helpline.