Second Indian Expat Dies After Riyadh Airport Missile Strike
A second Indian national has died from injuries sustained during the Houthi missile strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport.
A second Indian national has succumbed to injuries sustained during the Houthi missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The victim, 36-year-old Sheikh Saeed, passed away in a Riyadh hospital intensive care unit after battling his injuries for more than three weeks.
Saeed, who hailed from the Kamareddy district of Telangana, had been living and working in Saudi Arabia for nearly 12 years. At the time of the October 10 strike, he was employed at a Starbucks outlet located within the airport terminal.
A Growing Toll of Casualties
The death of Saeed brings the official death toll from the missile attack to 14. This includes four Saudi nationals and 10 foreign nationals. Saeed is the second Indian citizen to perish as a result of this specific strike.
The first Indian victim was 46-year-old Mohammed Yusuf Ali, an IT professional from Hyderabad, who passed away and was buried in Riyadh on October 12. Following the initial strike, Saudi authorities reported a total of 12 deaths and 309 injuries across the site.
Status of Other Injured Nationals
The impact on the Indian community remains a significant concern for diplomatic officials. Of the 11 Indians initially reported injured in the attack, the current medical status is as follows:
- One individual remains in stable condition in the ICU.
- One individual is being treated in a normal ward.
- The remaining injured nationals have been discharged from medical facilities.
Medical care for the victims was provided by several facilities, including the King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital.
Diplomatic Response and Regional Tensions
The Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Shri Vipul, expressed his condolences following the news. The embassy is currently assisting Saeed's family with funeral arrangements in Riyadh per their request. Saeed is survived by his wife and three children in Telangana, while his two brothers continue to reside and work in Saudi Arabia.
India has formally condemned the targeting of civilian infrastructure, emphasizing the need for the safety of the 2.5 million Indian citizens currently living in Saudi Arabia. This tragedy occurs amidst a broader West Asia conflict that began in February 2026, which has already resulted in over 20 Indian deaths.