Second Indian Dies Following Riyadh Airport Missile Strike
A 36-year-old Indian national has died following the Houthi missile attack on Riyadh's airport, marking the second Indian fatality from the strike.
The death toll of Indian nationals following the Houthi missile attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport has risen to two. Sheikh Saeed, a 36-year-old Starbucks employee, has passed away after battling severe injuries sustained during the strike on October 10.
A Tragic Loss for a Telangana Family
Saeed, a resident of Saini Baba Colony in Kamareddy, Telangana, had been working in Saudi Arabia for nearly 12 years. The missile strike targeted the area housing Terminals 3 and 4 of the airport complex, where Saeed was working at a Starbucks outlet when the projectile hit.
After spending more than three weeks in intensive care, Saeed succumbed to his injuries between November 3 and November 4. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh officially confirmed the news on Wednesday, noting that the victim had fought bravely for his life.
Ambassador Shri Vipul expressed profound sorrow over the loss. Saeed is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son. His family has decided that he will be buried in Riyadh, and the Indian Embassy has committed to providing full assistance during this difficult time.
The Toll of the October 10 Attack
Saeed is the second Indian national to die as a result of this specific attack. The first victim was 46-year-old Mohammed Yousuf Ali, an IT professional from Hyderabad who was traveling for Umrah at the time of the incident.
Saudi authorities have attributed the missile strike to Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The attack resulted in significant casualties, including:
- 14 deaths in total: Including four Saudi nationals and ten foreign nationals.
- Diverse nationalities affected: Among the deceased were two Indians, two Bangladeshis, and citizens from the US, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan.
- Mass injuries: More than 300 individuals were injured in the strike.
Rising Regional Tensions and Maritime Risks
The death of Sheikh Saeed highlights the growing dangers posed by the ongoing regional conflict. This year alone, the unrest has resulted in at least 24 Indian deaths, 15 of whom were seafarers.
In a separate recent tragedy on November 2, Gujarati seafarer Gandhar Nahim Ajij died after an Indian-flagged cargo vessel, the MSV Al Jusufi, was struck by an unidentified aerial object near Limah, off the Omani coast. The vessel was transporting dates from the UAE's Hamriyah port to Porbandar. While 13 crew members were rescued by the Omani Coast Guard, the incident has heightened fears regarding commercial shipping safety.
The Indian government has formally condemned the targeting of civilian infrastructure and commercial shipping, calling for the protection of non-combatants and the maintenance of free navigation in the region.
As flight disruptions to Saudi Arabian destinations continue to affect Indian airlines, diplomatic missions have established 24-hour helplines to support the approximately 2.4 million Indian expatriates living in the Kingdom.