New Delhi/Kochi/IBNS: A special flight of Indian Air Force (AIF) carrying the mortal remains of 45 Indians killed in the Kuwait fire reached Kochi on Friday morning.

Among 45, the majority are from Kerala (24) and Tamil Nadu (7). 

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reached Ernakulam to receive the mortal remains.

Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, who went to Kuwait to take stock of the situation and assist in the repatriation, is also onboard the special flight.

The flight, which reached Kerala at around 10:30 am, will head to Delhi.

The incident happened at 6 am local time (9 am IST) on Wednesday.

The fire started in a kitchen in the six-storey building which had 160 people living in it and some succumbed to death as they jumped off the fifth floor to escape.

An inquiry has been initiated into the matter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting at his residence over the tragedy on the same day.

Kuwait's health ministry said the injured had been admitted to several hospitals; the majority were sent to Al-Adan, but some were also sent to Farwaniya Hospital, Al-Amiri, and Mubarak Hospital.