Six Indians Dead and One Missing Amid Gulf Conflict
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed a tragic toll amid the intensifying conflict in West Asia, reporting that six Indian nationals have died and one remains missing. The news comes as the region faces heightened instability, with more than 300,000 Indian citizens having been evacuated from the area since February 28.
Tragedy at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport
A devastating missile strike by Houthi forces targeted Terminal 3 of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10. The attack resulted in 13 deaths and over 300 injuries, including 11 Indian citizens.
Among the deceased was 46-year-old Mohammed Yousuf Ali, an IT professional from Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad, who had lived in Riyadh for a decade. Ali was traveling with his family for Umrah when the strike occurred. The incident left his family deeply scarred:
- His wife, Sameera, and 11-year-old daughter, Maryam, sustained minor injuries.
- His 18-year-old son, Aman, required surgery on his knee.
- His 16-year-old son, Wasi, suffered the loss of his toes.
The Indian government has formally condemned the strike.
Missing Seafarers and Maritime Attacks
The maritime sector has also been caught in the crossfire. On October 11, a drone struck the Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT Petro Dolphin at the Sohar Anchorage off the coast of Oman. While nine of the 11 Indian crew members were successfully rescued, two seafarers are currently missing:
- Amit Singh, aged 20-25, from Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
- Bir Bahadur Yadav, aged 25-26, from Deoria.
The Omani Coast Guard and the Indian Embassy in Muscat are currently coordinating search-and-rescue operations. On the same day, the tanker MT Valthera was struck in the Strait of Hormuz, though all Indian crew members on board survived without injury.
Workplace Fatality in Jizan
In a separate incident on October 13, a 27-year-old Indian national, Kashireddy Rakesh, died in a workplace accident in Jizan, Saudi Arabia. A native of Yakinipur village in Telangana’s Jagtial district, Rakesh had been working as a rigger for three years. He was killed when a pipe being lifted by a crane collapsed on him. His family has requested assistance from the Jeddah Consulate to repatriate his remains from a hospital in Al Darb.
Diplomatic Appeals and Travel Disruptions
As the situation grows more volatile, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, has addressed the plight of the nearly 10 million Indians living in GCC countries. He has called for the immediate de-escalation of the conflict and the protection of civilian infrastructure.
The instability has also forced major changes in regional travel. Air India and IndiGo have suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia until at least October 24. Travelers are being advised to use alternative routes through:
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Qatar
Diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, and Iraq remain actively engaged in repatriation efforts and the ongoing search for the missing seafarer.