Jerusalem, March 23
At least 47 people were hurt on Saturday evening when an Iranian missile hit the southern Israeli town of Dimona — known for the dome-shaped structure at its nuclear facility and widely referred to as “Little India,” rescue officials said.
Among those injured was a 12-year-old boy who remains in serious condition after being struck by shrapnel, officials from the Magen David Adom (MDA) rescue service and local residents told PTI.
A woman in her 30s sustained moderate injuries from flying glass, while 31 others suffered minor wounds from shrapnel or were injured after falling while rushing to shelters, they added. Around 14 more people were treated for acute anxiety at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba.
“The missile struck a community building, and nearby older houses collapsed due to the impact. Most people were inside shelters and avoided serious harm, except for the young boy who remained outside,” a local resident told PTI.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it is probing the failure to intercept the Iranian ballistic missile. The military stated that air defence systems engaged the missile, but the interceptors were unable to bring it down.
“The incident will be investigated,” it said.
The UN nuclear watchdog IAEA called for “maximum military restraint” following the strike.
“The IAEA is aware of reports about an incident in Dimona, Israel, involving a missile impact and has received no indication of damage to the Negev nuclear research center,” the agency said in a post on X.
Iran said the strike on Dimona was a “response” to an earlier attack on the Natanz nuclear enrichment site. However, the IDF denied any involvement in striking Natanz earlier that day.
Dimona is home to a large Indian-Jewish community, mainly from Maharashtra, who maintain strong cultural ties with India. This connection has earned the town the nickname “Little India.”
Indian stores are found throughout the town, and Marathi is widely spoken. The Indian-origin population of around 7,500 makes up nearly 30 per cent of Dimona’s residents. Cricket is popular, and younger generations are well acquainted with Indian snacks such as ‘sonpapdi,’ ‘gulab jamun,’ ‘papri chaat,’ and ‘bhelpuri,’ which are sold in several shops.
