The family hailed from Pathanamthitta in Kerala.

New Delhi: In a tragic incident in the Middle Eastern country of Kuwait, four members of a family from Kerala, India died in a fire at their residence in Kuwait. The deceased have been identified as Matthew Muzakkal, his wife Lynne Abraham and their children Isaac and Erin.

The family hails from Pathanamthitta in Kerala and the incident took place in Abbasiya, Kuwait on Friday night.

“The family had returned to Kuwait from a holiday in Kerala, arriving around 4pm local time on Friday. Mathews Mulakal worked at Reuters, while his wife Lini was a staff nurse at Adan Hospital in Al Ahmadi Governorate. Their children studied at Bhawans School in Kuwait,” the newspaper said.

“Matthew has been working there for the last 15 years. His wife is a nurse. Children are studying there. They left Nedumbassery on Thursday night after a holiday,” a relative told the media on Saturday.

The family left for Kuwait after finishing their holiday on Thursday night.

Matthew is survived by his mother and three siblings. The victim's family in Kerala is yet to receive any official confirmation of the body's arrival at their native village.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait said in a post on X: “Ambassador @indembkwt deeply mourns the tragic loss of Mr. Mathews Mulakal, his wife and 2 children in a fire in their flat in Absia last night. The embassy is in touch with his family and will ensure the early repatriation of the remains. “

embassy @indembkwt Mr. Mathews deeply mourns the tragic loss of Mulakkal, his wife and 2 children in a fire in their flat at Abbasia last night. The embassy is in touch with his family and will ensure the early repatriation of the remains. @DrSJaishankar

— India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) 20 July 2024

According to preliminary information received, the fire started due to a short circuit in the AC in the room.

(with PTI input)