Indian Worker Killed in Dammam Airport Drone Strike
Kamlesh Pandey, an Indian national, was killed in a Houthi drone strike at Dammam's King Fahd International Airport.
Kamlesh Pandey, a 36-year-old Indian national, was killed during a Houthi drone strike on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, on the night of October 21. The Dammam airport drone strike has claimed the life of the Gorakhpur native, who had been working as an airport ground staff member and bus driver for several years.
Pandey, a resident of Kishun Pur (Baghi) village in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, was the sole breadwinner for his family. He is survived by his wife, Sunita, and two daughters, aged 14 and 10. His family is currently working through the necessary formalities to repatriate his remains for his final rites.
Casualties and Injuries Reported
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed that the attack resulted in two fatalities. Alongside Pandey, a Saudi airport worker named Sultan Al-Qahtani died due to smoke inhalation.
The incident also left eight people injured, including:
- Two Indian nationals
- Two Yemenis
- Two Bangladeshis
- One Nepalese national
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh is currently managing the repatriation process. One of the injured Indians was discharged on October 22, while the second is expected to be released shortly.
A Pattern of Regional Hostilities
This incident follows a series of recent escalations in the region. Earlier on October 21, Saudi air defenses intercepted a drone near the Shaybah oil field in the Eastern Province. Debris from that incident killed a Filipino and a Nepali worker and injured an Indian and a Pakistani national.
Other recent security incidents include:
- October 10: A missile strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed Mohammed Yousuf Ali from Hyderabad and left two Indians in intensive care.
- October 11: A drone attack on the MT Petro Dolphin tanker off Oman left two Indian sailors missing.
Impact on Indian Citizens and Travel
Since late February, at least six Indian deaths and one missing person case have been linked to regional hostilities. This instability has led to the evacuation or return of over 300,000 Indian citizens.
The Ministry of External Affairs has condemned the attacks and activated 24/7 helplines to assist those in the region. Meanwhile, commercial flights to Saudi Arabia via Air India and IndiGo remain suspended through at least October 24.
The Indian government has advised its citizens to remain indoors during alerts and has suggested considering alternative travel hubs, such as Bahrain, Kuwait, or Qatar, to exit the region.