Indian envoy attends funeral of Hyderabad man killed in Riyadh airport strike

India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Vipul, attended the funeral of Mohammed Yusuf Ali, the Indian national killed in Saturday’s missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Indian Embassy said on Monday.

“Ambassador conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul,” the embassy said. Embassy officials attended with him.

Ali, from Hyderabad, was among 11 Indians hurt when the missile struck a passenger terminal on 10 October. Two of his sons and an aunt were also injured. He died of his injuries, raising the death toll from the attack to 13. More than 300 people were wounded.

Three still in intensive care

The embassy said three injured Indians remain in intensive care units in a stable condition and two are in general wards. The rest have been discharged.

“We thank the Saudi authorities for the medical care provided to the injured Indian nationals,” it said. Officials have been in touch with the hospitals treating the injured and with Ali’s family, and offered help to bring his remains home.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he was “deeply grieved at the loss of life of an Indian national in the Riyadh attack”. On Saturday he said: “Our Embassy is doing everything necessary in this difficult situation.”

Advice to Indians in Saudi Arabia

The embassy has asked Indians in the kingdom to stay alert, stay indoors when necessary, follow instructions from local authorities and avoid circulating videos or news about the attacks. Saudi Civil Defence has warned that filming or sharing information about missile and drone interceptions or impact sites carries legal liability.

The embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah are working normally. The 24-hour Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra helpline is 8002471234.

Attacks continue

The Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday: “We strongly condemn the repeated attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.” It called attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure unacceptable.

The airport has stayed shut since Saturday. On Sunday evening a projectile hit its Terminal 4, causing a fire, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam was also targeted. Yemen’s Houthis, who have been firing missiles and drones at Saudi airports for a week, claimed four operations against Saudi targets that day.

Vipul also met Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Abdulrahman Al-Rassi in Riyadh, and led India’s delegation at the International Energy Forum ministerial meeting and the WPC Energy Congress being held in the capital.