An Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130J aircraft carrying the mortal remains of 31 Indians who died in a massive fire incident in Kuwait landed at the Cochin International Airport today.

This comes two days after the fire ripped through a building in Kuwait's Al-Jahra governorate, killing a total of 46 people. Most of the deceased were migrant workers, including a significant number of Indians.

While the initial reports placed the number of Indians killed at 45, an update suggests one more injured succumbed to their injuries, raising the death toll to 46.

Out of the 31 bodies retrieved today, 23 were identified as Keralites, while 7 hailed from Tamil Nadu. One person from Karnataka was also identified among the deceased.

The remaining 15 bodies are expected to be flown in on a separate flight to Delhi. Reports indicate these individuals belonged to various states across India, including Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Haryana, Punjab, and West Bengal.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh visited Kuwait to ensure the swift repatriation of the mortal remains and extend assistance to the injured. The Indian government has also set up a 24x7 helpline to support the affected families.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and an investigation is underway. Reports suggest that the building may have housed several migrant workers and might have had safety code violations, including improper storage of gas cylinders and blocked fire exits.