Mohammed Yousuf Ali had called his family to Saudi Arabia for a journey many Muslims dream of making: an Umrah pilgrimage. They were about to leave Riyadh for Medina when the airport came under attack. The 46-year-old Hyderabad IT professional did not survive, and several of his relatives were hurt.

What happened at the airport

The attack hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on 10 October. Early reports said it left 12 people dead and more than 300 injured. Reports say debris fell on Yousuf, his family members and other Umrah pilgrims. The Houthis have been reported to have claimed attacks on Saudi Arabia, but we have not independently verified those claims or the details of how the airport was struck.

What the Indian Embassy says

In an update on X on Sunday, the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said one Indian national had died, three were in the ICU but stable, two more were in normal hospital wards, and the rest of the injured had been discharged. Around 11 Indians were among those hurt, according to reports.

The Embassy said its officials had visited all the hospitals where injured Indians were admitted. It thanked the Saudi authorities for the medical care and assured the families that it would provide all possible support.

Who Mohammed Yousuf Ali was

The man who died has been identified as Mohammed Yousuf Ali, a techie from Hyderabad. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi confirmed the name and said he was travelling to Medina for Umrah when the attack happened. Relatives and friends gathered at his home in Mehdipatnam as the news reached the city. One relative said his last rites were likely to be performed in Riyadh, though the family has not confirmed that.

The family left behind.

Several members of Yousuf’s family were injured in the attack. We have not seen details of who is in the ICU or in the wards, and we are not naming any other family members out of respect for their privacy while they recover.

Government response

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed condolences over the death and said the Indian Embassy would extend all possible assistance to the bereaved family. The Embassy has asked Indians in Saudi Arabia to stay alert, to avoid unnecessary exposure to danger, to stay indoors where necessary and to follow instructions from local authorities. It has also asked people who need help to contact the 24-hour helpline of the Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK).

A fear that stretches across Hyderabad and the Gulf

For many families in Hyderabad and across India, Saudi Arabia is where a loved one works or where a long-awaited pilgrimage takes place. News like this travels fast, and many families will have spent the weekend trying to reach relatives. If you have family in Saudi Arabia, the Embassy’s advisory and helpline are the places to start.

What happens next

Key questions remain open: the condition of the three people in the ICU, arrangements for Yousuf’s last rites, and whether the family will be able to travel to Riyadh or bring his body home. 

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