Second Indian Dies in Riyadh Airport Houthi Missile Attack
A 36-year-old Indian national has died in Riyadh following a Houthi missile attack on King Khalid International Airport.
The death toll of Indian nationals following a Houthi missile attack in Riyadh has risen to two. Sheikh Saeed, a 36-year-old from Islampur in the Kamareddy district of Telangana, has passed away in a Riyadh intensive care unit after a three-week battle for survival.
Saeed was critically injured during the strike on King Khalid International Airport on October 10, 2026. He had been residing in the Kingdom for 10 to 12 years and was working at a Starbucks outlet within the airport terminal at the time of the incident. He is survived by his wife, three children, and his mother.
Casualties and Damage at the Airport
The assault, claimed by the Iran-backed Houthi group, has caused widespread devastation. According to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the strike resulted in approximately 309 injuries. The total death toll from the attack stands at 14, comprising:
- Four Saudi nationals
- Ten foreign nationals from countries including India, Bangladesh, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan
The Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Shri Vipul, expressed his condolences and confirmed that the mission is assisting Saeed’s two brothers in Riyadh. At the request of the family, the embassy is helping facilitate funeral arrangements to ensure Saeed is buried in Saudi Arabia.
A Growing List of Victims
Saeed is the second Indian national to lose his life as a direct result of this specific strike. Earlier, on October 12, Mohammed Yousuf Ali, a 46-year-old IT professional from Hyderabad, died after being struck by falling debris from the explosion.
Two other Indian nationals remain under medical care in Riyadh; one is currently in stable condition in the ICU, while the other is being treated in a general ward.
Regional Conflict Impacting Indian Citizens
The tragedy at the airport is part of a broader, violent trend affecting Indian nationals in the region. Since February 2026, a total of 22 Indians have lost their lives due to regional conflicts, including 14 seafarers.
Most recently, on November 2, 2026, 25-year-old Gandhar Nahim Ajij from Gujarat was killed when an aerial object struck the Indian-flagged vessel MSV Al Jusufi near the coast of Oman. While the Omani Coast Guard successfully rescued 13 other crew members, the incident highlighted the increasing dangers in the region.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and the Ministry of External Affairs have strongly condemned these attacks on commercial shipping and infrastructure, as India continues its efforts to protect and repatriate its citizens across the Gulf.