Himal Press 
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KATHMANDU: At least seven Nepalis have died and 45 others have been hospitalized in Kuwait after consuming toxic homemade alcohol.
“I can confirm that seven Nepalis died and 45 others are receiving treatment in six different hospitals in Kuwait. We are collecting identities of the victims from various hospitals,” Nepal’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Ghanashyam Lamsal, told Himal Press over the phone on Friday.
According to Kuwait’s Ministry of Health, a total of 23 people have died so far and 160 cases of methanol poisoning have been reported since last Saturday, all linked to the consumption of contaminated alcoholic beverages. All those hospitalized are of Asian nationalities.
Local media outlet Arab Times reported that 31 patients required ventilator support, 51 underwent emergency kidney dialysis, and 21 have suffered permanent blindness or vision impairment.
Kuwait is a popular employment destination for Nepali youths. More than 100,000 Nepalis are currently in the Gulf nation.
