Hyderabad Techie Killed in Riyadh Airport Missile Strike
A 46-year-old IT professional from Hyderabad has tragically lost his life following a missile strike at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Mohammed Yousuf Ali, a resident of Mehdipatnam, was traveling with his family when the attack occurred on October 10.
Ali, who had been working in Riyadh for approximately a decade, was waiting near a check-in kiosk for a 3:00 p.m. flight to Madinah. The projectile, which has been attributed to Iran-backed Houthi militants, struck the facility, causing a section of the roof to collapse. Ali sustained critical injuries and succumbed to his wounds the following day. He is the first recorded Indian fatality resulting from this incident.
Devastating Injuries to Family Members
The blast did not only claim Ali's life but also left his family members with significant injuries. The impact of the falling debris and the explosion caused varying degrees of trauma:
- Aman Ali (18): Ali's son, who required emergency knee surgery.
- Wasi Ali (16): Ali's second son, who suffered the loss of three toes.
- Sameera: Ali's wife, who sustained minor injuries.
- Maryam (11): Ali's daughter, who also sustained minor injuries.
- Family Aunt: Suffered head wounds but is currently reported to be in stable condition.
The family has decided to conduct the funeral rites in Riyadh, with support provided by the Indian mission.
Regional Escalation and Diplomatic Response
The strike at the airport is part of a broader escalation of Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure. Saudi authorities have condemned these actions as war crimes. The airport incident resulted in 13 deaths, while total casualties across multiple nationalities—including Saudis, Bangladeshis, Egyptians, and others—have exceeded 300.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has officially condemned the targeting of civilian infrastructure, describing it as "completely unacceptable." External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has pledged assistance to the bereaved family. Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh is working closely with Saudi medical teams to assist the injured. The mission is also monitoring three other Indian nationals who remain in intensive care units.
In response to the heightened security risks, Indian embassies in the region have reissued security advisories. Additionally, flight operations to Riyadh were suspended until October 13.
Missing Indian Seafarers in Oman Incident
In a separate maritime incident on October 11, a drone strike targeted the Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT Petro Dolphin at the Sohar Anchorage off the coast of Oman. The attack has left the fate of two Indian crew members uncertain.
Of the 11 Indian seafarers on board the vessel, nine were successfully rescued by local Coast Guard authorities. However, two individuals, identified as Bir Bahadur Yadav and Amit Singh, remain missing. The Indian Embassy in Muscat and Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal are currently coordinating search and rescue operations. While a second vessel, the MT Valthera, was also struck, all Indian crew members on that ship are reported safe.