Kochi: Kerala received the loved ones who died in the Mangaf fire disaster in Kuwait with tears. The bodies of all the 23 Malayalees who were brought to Kochi by air force flight in the morning were taken to their respective places in ambulances around 12.30 pm. The chief minister, ministers, other leaders and family members of the deceased paid their last respects at the Nedumbassery airport. The dead bodies were escorted by the police to various places with official honors of the state.
The Indian Air Force plane that took off from Kuwait in the morning with the bodies of 45 Indians, including 24 Malayalis, landed at Nedumbassery at 10:28 am. After completing the procedures including customs clearance, the body was brought out together at 11.45. A special place was set up for public viewing. When the dead body was brought out, the grief of the loved ones broke out. The tears and lamentations of the loved ones who were waiting at the airport since morning were heartbreaking.
The dead bodies of seven persons from Tamil Nadu and one from Karnataka were brought down in Kochi and handed over to their respective states. Minister of Minority Welfare of Tamil Nadu also reached Nedumbassery. Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh accompanied the body from Kuwait. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, cabinet members and Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi paid their respects at the Kochi airport.