Tamil Nadu Man Killed in Kuwait Plant Attack, Indian Death Toll Rises to Eight
In a tragic incident, a man from Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district has been killed in an attack on a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait. This death brings the total number of Indians killed in the ongoing conflict in the West Asia region to eight, highlighting the escalating risks faced by expatriate workers in the area.
Details of the Deceased and the Attack
The deceased has been identified as K Santhana Selvam, a 37-year-old resident of Anikurunthan village in Ramanathapuram. He is survived by his wife, S Kausalya, and their two children. According to Kuwait's ministry of electricity, water and renewable energy, a service building at one of its power and water distillation plants was damaged in what it described as a 'brutal' attack, as reported by the state-run KUNA news agency.
Ministry spokesperson Fatima Jawhar Hayat confirmed that the strike resulted in the death of an Indian worker. She added that technical and emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the site to contain the situation and manage the aftermath, underscoring the severity of the incident.
Family's Plea for Repatriation and Assistance
Kausalya revealed that her husband had been working as a contract labourer for a company in Kuwait for over 12 years. She received the devastating news from the Indian embassy on Monday morning, informing her that he was killed in a missile attack launched by Iran on Kuwait. In response, she has urgently appealed to both the Union and state governments to take immediate steps to repatriate her husband's body to their hometown.
To formalize this request, Kausalya, along with other family members, submitted a representation to Ramanathapuram collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon. She emphasized that her family was entirely dependent on her husband's income for their livelihood and has sought financial assistance to support them during this difficult time.
Indian Embassy's Response and Broader Context
The Indian embassy in Kuwait has expressed its condolences over the tragedy. In a statement on X, it confirmed that this marks the first Indian death in Kuwait related to the conflict, stating, "The embassy is closely coordinating with Kuwaiti authorities to render all possible support and assistance." This incident follows a similar tragedy last week, where an Indian was among two people killed in the UAE when debris from intercepted missiles fell on a street, indicating the widening impact of regional hostilities on Indian nationals abroad.
As the conflict in West Asia intensifies, the safety of Indian workers in the region remains a critical concern, with this latest death underscoring the urgent need for enhanced protective measures and support from authorities.
