Gorakhpur Worker Killed in Dammam Airport Drone Strike
Kamlesh Pandey, a worker from Gorakhpur, was killed in a Houthi drone strike at Dammam airport. Indian Embassy is managing repatriation.
A 36-year-old Indian worker, Kamlesh Pandey, was killed during a Houthi drone or missile strike at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, on the night of October 21. The attack, which targeted the aviation hub, has sent shockwaves through the expatriate community in the region.
Tragedy at King Fahd International Airport
Pandey, a resident of Kishun Pur village in the Bansgaon area of Gorakhpur, was working as a bus driver and pushback operator at the airport. The strike caused significant damage and resulted in multiple casualties. Among the deceased was Sultan Al-Qahtani, a Saudi airport employee who reportedly died from smoke inhalation while attempting to fight the resulting fires.
The incident also left eight others injured, including two Indian nationals. While one of the injured Indians has already been discharged from medical care, another is expected to be released from the hospital shortly. In a related incident, an intercepted drone at the Shaybah oil field in the Eastern Province also caused injuries to another Indian national.
A Family Left Bereft
Kamlesh Pandey was the sole breadwinner for his family. An intermediate graduate, he had been working in Saudi Arabia for several years, having previously held a position at the Bengaluru airport. He leaves behind:
- His wife, Suneeta.
- His two daughters, Tanvi (14) and Tanya (10).
Pandey had recently returned to India for a visit just five months ago. He had spoken with his brother, Mukesh, only hours before the fatal attack occurred.
Rising Regional Tensions and Impact on Expats
This latest strike follows a similar attack on October 10 at Riyadh's King Khalid Airport, which claimed the life of Mohammed Yousuf Ali from Hyderabad and wounded several other Indian citizens. The recurring nature of these strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure has raised serious concerns regarding the safety of the approximately 10 million Indian workers residing in GCC countries.
Since February, the regional conflict has contributed to the departure of over 300,000 Indians from the area. In response to the recent escalations, India's Ministry of External Affairs has condemned the strikes and placed Indian embassies across the Gulf on high alert, affirming solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
Repatriation Delays
While the Indian Embassy in Riyadh is actively coordinating the repatriation of Pandey's remains, the process is facing logistical hurdles. Major carriers, including Air India and IndiGo, have suspended flights to the region, with these suspensions expected to remain in place until at least October 24. Although Saudi authorities have confirmed that operations at Dammam airport have resumed, damage assessments at the site are still ongoing.