'Permission Denied': Kerala Minister's Reaction to IAF Plane Bringing Back Bodies of 45 Indians Killed in Kuwait
In the aftermath of the 2024 Kuwait Mangaf building fire, Veena George stated that she was denied permission by the Central government to travel to Kuwait.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George claimed on Friday that she was denied permission by the central government to travel to Kuwait and coordinate assistance for Indian nationals from the state affected by the tragic fire incident in Mangaf, located in the southern part of the Gulf country.
Ambulances were stationed at the terminal to transport the victims' bodies to their respective homes.
On Friday morning, an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft carrying the mortal remains of 45 Indian victims from the fire incident in Kuwait's Mangaf landed in Kochi. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, who had arrived in Kuwait earlier that morning to coordinate with Kuwaiti authorities for swift repatriation, also traveled aboard the aircraft, as confirmed by the Indian embassy.
"It is unfortunate that we were not granted permission to travel to Kuwait. More than half of the deceased were from Kerala. The majority of those undergoing treatment are also from Kerala," Veena George told reporters at the Cochin International Airport.
Following an emergency Cabinet meeting on Thursday, the Kerala government announced that Veena George, along with State Mission Director (NHM) Jeevan Babu, would urgently travel to Kuwait. Their mission includes coordinating efforts for treating injured individuals from Kerala and overseeing the repatriation of deceased victims. Among the victims, 24 hailed from Kerala.
"The embassy did not furnish us with precise data on the number of seriously injured persons. From the information gathered, a total of 7 individuals have been hospitalized, reportedly including 4 from Kerala, though this remains unofficial. My purpose in visiting Kuwait was to provide assistance to the injured and to convey their requirements to the Central Government," George informed reporters.
The Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum announced the cancellation of his other engagements for the day, expressing his intention to personally receive the bodies of the Malayalees who tragically perished in the Kuwait fire at the international airport.
Meanwhile, Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan briefed reporters that Kochi will receive the bodies of 23 Malayalees, 7 Tamilians, and one individual from Karnataka. Following this, the flight transporting the mortal remains of the other Indians who lost their lives in the fire will proceed to Delhi.
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