Mortal remains of 20 Indians reach India from Kuwait after delay due to Iran war

NEW DELHI: Mortal remains of 20 Indian nationals who died in Kuwait due to various incidents, including the war in the Middle East, arrived at Cochin International Airport in Kerala on Wednesday.Among the deceased was 37-year-old Santhanaselvam Krishnan from Muthukulathur in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district. He was killed in a drone strike on a water desalination plant. The other 19 Indians had died due to separate incidents and natural causes, but their repatriation had been delayed because of the ongoing conflict. The situation in West Asia has so far claimed the lives of eight Indian nationals, while one person remains missing, a senior official from the ministry of external affairs told reporters on Monday. The Indian mission in Kuwait is working with local authorities to ensure the early return of the mortal remains of all affected nationals.Aseem Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf), said at an inter-ministerial briefing earlier in New Delhi, “An Indian national, unfortunately, lost his life in an attack in Kuwait. We express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. Our mission in Kuwait is in touch with the family and is coordinating closely with the local authorities to render all support and for the early return of his mortal remains to India. Eight Indian nationals have unfortunately lost their lives and one Indian national remains missing in various incidents.”The Indian embassy in Kuwait also expressed condolences on the death of Krishnan, following the attack on the desalination facility. In a statement on X, the embassy said, “Embassy of India in Kuwait expresses its deepest condolences at the tragic demise of an Indian national due to an attack on a desalination facility in Kuwait. The Embassy is closely coordinating with the Kuwaiti authorities to render all possible support and assistance.”Kuwait's ministry of electricity, water and renewable energy confirmed on Monday that an Indian worker was killed and a service building at a major power and water desalination plant sustained significant damage following a reported Iranian strike on Sunday evening.