Bhubaneswar: The mortal remains of two Odias among 45 people killed in a devastating fire mishap in Kuwait arrived in Bhubaneswar in a special aircraft on Saturday morning.
Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, protem Speaker Ranendra Pratap Swain, Minister Prithviraj Harichandan and BJP president Manmohan Samal, reached the airport soon after the aircraft landed in the morning. They paid their last respects to the departed souls of Santosh Kumar Gouda and Mohammad Jahur.
The State government announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the family members of both the deceased.
“We expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of Santosh Gouda and Mohammad Jahur. Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has announced Rs 4 lakh compensation from the Chief Minister’s relief funds for the kin of each deceased,” Deputy CM KV Singh Deo said.
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi is also scheduled to pay tributes to the departed souls. The government has made arrangements to pay last respects to the victims before the bodies were taken to their native places.
Santosh Gouda belongs to Ranajhali village under Purushotampur block in Ganjam district and Mohammed Jahur is from Karadapalli village under Tigiria police limits in Cuttack.
Families of both the victims were informed about the deaths by the Ministry of External Affairs after identification of the bodies on Thursday.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday had condoled the deaths of Jahur and Santosh. Taking to X, the chief minister wrote, “Many people lost their lives in the terrible fire in Kuwait. The news of the death of two Odia sons Mohammad Zahoor and Satish Gowda is very sad. I offer my condolences to the bereaved families and pray to Lord Jagannath for the liberation of the immortal soul.”
A massive fire broke out early on Wednesday morning in the seven-storey apartment building in Mangaf at Southern Kuwait where Santosh and Jahur were residing.
Both had gone to Kuwait in search of greener pastures. They were working in separate private construction companies.
