Rising Gulf Conflict Casualties: Engineer Killed, Sailors Missing
The surge in Gulf conflict casualties has brought tragedy to Indian families, following a fatal projectile strike in Riyadh and a drone attack on a tanker near Oman.
Mohammed Yousuf Ali, a 46-year-old IT engineer from Hyderabad, lost his life following a projectile strike at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10. The attack, which has been attributed to Iran-backed Houthi rebels, occurred while Ali was traveling to Madinah for Umrah with his family.
Tragedy for a Family on Pilgrimage
Ali was accompanied by his wife Sameera, sons Amaan (18) and Wasey (16), daughter Maryam (11), and his aunt Atiya Sultana. While Ali became the sole Indian fatality among the 13 deaths reported by Saudi authorities, several of his family members sustained serious injuries:
- Amaan: Underwent knee surgery and remains in the ICU at Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital.
- Wasey: Sustained leg injuries.
- Maryam: Treated for injuries caused by glass fragments.
- Atiya Sultana: Underwent surgery for head injuries.
Funeral prayers for the engineer were held in both Riyadh and Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad.
Two Indian Sailors Missing Near Oman
In a separate maritime incident on October 11, two Indian seafarers from Uttar Pradesh, Bir Bahadur Yadav (25) and Amit Singh (20), went missing. A drone strike hit the Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT Petro Dolphin at the Sohar Anchorage off the coast of Oman.
Out of the 11 Indian crew members on board, nine were successfully rescued. Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the incident and noted that a Coast Guard search operation is currently underway. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India has called for urgent support for the families of the missing men.
Maritime Attacks and Travel Disruptions
The instability in the region continues to impact maritime safety. A drone strike also targeted the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Valthera in the Strait of Hormuz, though all 11 Indian crew members on that vessel were reported safe.
The escalation has also triggered significant travel disruptions. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh remains closed until October 17. Consequently, major Indian airlines, including Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and Akasa Air, have suspended services to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Medina through that date.
Broader Regional Impact
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh issued an advisory on October 13, urging citizens to remain vigilant and comply with local authorities. The Ministry of External Affairs reported that more than 300,000 Indians have returned from the region since February 28.
The scale of the crisis is reflected in recent maritime data. According to the International Maritime Organisation, there have been 24 seafarer deaths and over 100 recorded incidents in the region since late February.