Our Bureau
Riyadh
An Indian national was among two people killed and two other Indians were injured in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday night, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on Thursday. Eight people were injured in the incident, with some reported to be in serious condition, according to Saudi authorities.
The embassy said Saudi authorities had confirmed the casualties and that it was gathering further details while contacting the affected families. It expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation reported that the attack on October 21 killed one Saudi citizen and one Indian resident. The eight injured included two Indian, two Yemeni and two Bangladeshi nationals, along with one Saudi citizen and one Nepali national. The injured were receiving medical treatment at several hospitals.
India strongly condemned the attack, reiterating that targeting civilian and critical infrastructure was unacceptable and must cease immediately. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian Embassy was in contact with Saudi authorities and would provide all possible assistance to the affected Indian nationals. New Delhi also expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty and called for peace and normalcy to return to the region.
The incident came amid a series of attacks on Saudi infrastructure. On Wednesday, another Indian national was injured in a drone attack targeting Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oilfield in the kingdom’s Eastern Province. Saudi air defences intercepted the drone, but falling debris caused casualties among workers at the site. The incident did not affect oilfield operations, according to Saudi authorities.
The latest developments follow an earlier attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10, in which an Indian national later died from injuries. The repeated strikes have raised concerns over the safety of civilians and Indian nationals living and working in Saudi Arabia.
The Indian Embassy has advised citizens to remain vigilant, follow local authorities’ instructions and move to safe indoor locations during aerial attacks.