An Indian national and a Pakistani were killed in Abu Dhabi when debris from an intercepted ballistic missile fell in the area, authorities reported on Thursday.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office confirmed the deaths in a statement, noting that the incident stemmed from the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. It added that three other individuals—an Emirati, a Jordanian, and an Indian—sustained injuries ranging from serious to moderate. The office urged the public to rely solely on official sources for information and refrain from spreading unverified rumours.
Identities of the victims were not immediately disclosed. With this latest fatality, the number of Indians killed in the ongoing West Asia conflict has risen to at least seven.
Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, has been among the locations targeted amid regional tensions. Iran has launched strikes against countries hosting US military bases, describing its actions as retaliation following an attack that began on February 28. The precise origin of the missile in Thursday’s incident remained unclear at the time of reporting.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office had earlier referenced the event in the context of falling debris after air defences engaged the incoming ballistic missile, resulting in the two deaths and the reported injuries.
Separately on Thursday, the family of a 26-year-old Indian man from Uttar Pradesh, killed earlier in a suspected missile strike in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, appealed for compensation and a government job for his widow. The remains of Ravi Gopal, who had been working as a driver in a plastic factory in the Saudi capital since last year, were repatriated to his village in Sitapur with support from the Ministry of External Affairs and local administration. His last rites were performed on Wednesday evening.
Gopal is survived by his wife Ritu, his parents, and a four-year-old son. His elder brother, Manmohan Dayal, told news agency PTI that the family urgently needs financial help. Local BJP MLA Asha Maurya assured prompt action on their demands, while Mahmudabad Sub-Divisional Magistrate B K Singh confirmed that the district administration was examining the request for aid and assisting with procedures.
This incident in Abu Dhabi underscores the risks faced by civilians, including expatriate workers, as missile exchanges continue in the region.
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