Indian Driver Killed in Saudi Airport Attack
Kamlesh Pandey, an Indian driver, was killed in a Saudi airport attack at Dammam's King Fahd International Airport.
A devastating Saudi airport attack, attributed to Houthi forces, has claimed the life of an Indian national at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The incident, which occurred on October 21, 2026, involved a drone or missile strike that caused significant casualties and widespread alarm.
The victim has been identified as Kamlesh Pandey, a 36-year-old bus driver from Kishunpur Bagahi village in Gorakhpur. Pandey, the son of Harish Chandra Pandey, had been working at the airport for three to four years. His death is a profound tragedy for his family, including his wife, Sunita, and their two daughters, aged approximately 14 and 10, for whom he was the primary breadwinner.
Casualties and Injuries in Dammam
Saudi authorities confirmed that the attack resulted in two deaths: one Saudi citizen and one Indian resident. In addition to the fatalities, eight people were injured in the strike, two of whom are Indian nationals. As of October 22, one of the injured Indians has been discharged from medical care, while the second is expected to be released shortly.
Simultaneous Strikes on Energy Infrastructure
The violence extended beyond the airport on the same day. A separate drone attack targeted the Aramco Shaybah oilfield, leading to further loss of life and injury:
- Fatalities: One Filipino worker and one Nepali worker were killed.
- Injuries: One Indian national and one Pakistani national were injured; the Indian worker has since been discharged.
These events follow a major strike on October 10 at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. That attack claimed the life of 46-year-old Mohammed Yousuf Ali from Hyderabad and left his sons with severe injuries. Regarding the Riyadh incident, medical reports indicate that two Indians remain in the ICU, two are in general wards, and seven have been discharged.
Embassy Response and Security Warnings
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has condemned these targeted assaults on civilian and energy infrastructure. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh is currently working with the Pandey family to facilitate the repatriation of his remains to India.
With 2.74 million Indians residing in Saudi Arabia, the Embassy has issued a critical advisory to all citizens:
- Strictly adhere to all local security alerts.
- Avoid photographing or sharing images of attack sites, as doing so is a violation of Saudi law.
The ongoing security threats continue to disrupt regional travel, with several airlines suspending services to various Saudi cities, impacting both migrant workers and pilgrims across the region.