New Delhi: An Indian national was killed in missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday. With this, the total number of Indian fatalities in the ongoing West Asia conflict has risen to six, even as authorities continue efforts to safeguard nearly 10 million Indians living across the region.
The latest casualty was reported from Riyadh, where the Indian national died on Wednesday—marking the first such fatality in Saudi Arabia during the conflict. Earlier, two Indians were killed in an attack on an industrial area in Oman on February 13, while three seafarers lost their lives in strikes on merchant vessels in recent weeks. Another Indian citizen remains missing.
“Late Thursday night, we received information about the tragic death of an Indian national during an attack in Riyadh on March 18. We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family,” Aseem Mahajan, Secretary (Gulf) in the MEA, said during a media briefing.
The Indian embassy in Riyadh is in contact with the victim’s family and coordinating with Saudi authorities to facilitate the repatriation of the body. Officials familiar with the matter indicated that the death occurred during missile and drone strikes launched by Iran targeting Riyadh.
Several Indians, including workers and seafarers, have also been injured in attacks across multiple countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, and Iraq.
The Indian government has been actively engaging with regional leaders to ensure the safety of its citizens amid escalating tensions. Around 10 million Indians reside across West Asia, making their protection a top priority.
Mahajan also said that 15 Indian crew members of the US-owned oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, which was attacked near Basra in Iraq, are expected to return to India via Saudi Arabia. One Indian seafarer aboard the vessel was killed, and arrangements are underway to bring his body back home.
Since the conflict began on February 28, approximately 300,000 people have returned to India from West Asia.
Efforts to facilitate evacuation continue, with airlines in the UAE operating around 90 flights to India on Friday. Additional flights have been arranged from Oman and Saudi Arabia. With Qatar’s airspace partially reopened, Qatar Airways operated 10 special commercial flights, while Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways launched a special flight from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qaisumah airport.
Indian authorities have also assisted citizens in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq—where airspace remains closed—in crossing into Saudi Arabia to board flights. Similarly, Indians in Israel have been helped to travel via Jordan, while those in Iran have been routed through Armenia and Azerbaijan.
A group of 24 seafarers, including 16 from the merchant vessel MKD Vyom and eight from the oil tanker Skylight, have already returned to India from Oman.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that 913 Indians have crossed from Iran into Armenia and Azerbaijan so far, with many already returning home on commercial flights.
