13 dead, 21 blinded after drinking tainted alcohol in Kuwait, several Indians among victims

In an unfortunate incident 63 people, all of Asian nationalities suffered methanol poisoning after consuming contaminated alcoholic drinks in Kuwait. The Embassy in Kuwait has confirmed that there were 40 Indian nationals among the affected people.

In five days there have been reports of 13 deaths and 21 cases of blindness or impaired vision due to consumption of the drinks. Of them, 51 people required urgent kidney dialysis and 31 needed mechanical ventilation.

In a press release, the Embassy if India in Kuwait informed that some people are in critical condition while others are recovering.

"In an unfortunate development, around 40 Indian nationals in Kuwait have been hospitalised in the last few days. There have been some fatalities, some are in a critical condition, while others are recovering. Embassy is further ascertaining the details of the same," the statement read.

It further mentioned that the Embassy is "continuously following up with concerned hospitals and Ministry of Health of Kuwait for proper treatment of Indian patients".

The Indian Express, citing other reports wrote that the nationalities of those affected have not been officially disclosed, however, reports suggest that some of them were from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Nepal too.

Kuwait bans the import or domestic production of alcoholic beverages, but some is manufactured in the country illegally in secret locations that lack any oversight or safety standards, exposing consumers to the risk of poisoning.

(With Reuters inputs)