K G Abraham, MD of Kuwait-based NBTC Group, whose employees died in a fire accident in one of the company's accommodations in the Gulf nation on Saturday, expressed regret for the incident and promised to look after the families of the victims.
After three days of the terrible fire that claimed 49 lives, Abraham apologized profusely to the media in this place.
"We are so sorry. We are so sorry. I was crying in my house. I know most of them. There were people working with us for more than 27 years. What happened was really unfortunate," he said.
Abraham claimed that the directors and managers of his company are currently paying condolences to each and every member of the deceased's family.
"This was not any mistake on our part, but still we will take responsibility. They were living and working with us. They built the company. They are our family," Abraham said.
He noted that talks about how to distribute the compensation were currently underway with the Embassies.
"We will soon disperse Rs 8 lakh as compensation and they will also receive the company insurance amount. We are concerned about the families and will support them and provide jobs," he added.
Abraham also denied the claims that the building was overcrowded.
According to him, there were only about 160 employees living in the 24 apartments with three bedrooms each that made up the rented property.
"As per the reports there, the incident happened due to a short-circuit in the security guard's room on the ground floor. There was no gas explosion as some claimed. There was no cooking in the building," he said.
Abraham said that the building was not that old and that its staff members received free housing and meals.
He stated that the families of the deceased will receive insurance coverage equivalent to four years' income because the fatalities were caused by an accident.
Earlier, NBTC had expressed in a statement that it was deeply "shocked and saddened by the tragic incident" that occurred in one of its residential units in Mangaf, Kuwait.
49 people were killed on June 12 when a building in Kuwait caught fire. Forty patients are being treated currently.
As per the website of the Central Travancore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, NBTC stands as the largest construction group in Kuwait.
In addition to the company's support, the Kerala government declared that the relatives of the state's deceased individuals would receive an amount of Rs five lakh each.
The relatives of the deceased will also receive financial support from the Central government in the amount of Rs two lakh.
Distinguished corporations have also declared financial assistance for families who have lost a loved one.
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