Another Indian national has lost his life in the ongoing conflict in West Asia, taking the total number of Indian casualties to six. The latest incident took place in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, on Wednesday, 18th March, where a 26-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh died in a suspected missile strike.
The deceased has been identified as Ravi Gopal, a native of Baghain village in the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh. Gopal had been working as a driver at a plastic factory in Riyadh since September 2025.
Ravi’s family said that they spoke to their son on the night of Wednesday, 18th March. The deceased’s wife, Ritu, added that their call got disconnected suddenly. “The call got disconnected after about 20 minutes, and when we tried calling back, we found the phone switched off. We also tried contacting his friends there, but could not reach anyone,” she told PTI.
The family came to know about his death the next day through his friend Ram Niwas, who also works in Saudi Arabia. According to them, he informed them that Ravi had died in a missile strike near the factory where he was employed.
Ravi’s elder brother, Manmohan Dayal, said they were told that Ravi was on duty when debris from the attack hit him. “He was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead. Ram Niwas identified the body,” he said.
The local police of Mahmudabad have already contacted the family to gather information regarding Ravi’s employment and the incident, which is part of the verification process. A relative of Ravi, who is also in Saudi Arabia, but 1,400 km away from Riyadh, is expected to travel to Riyadh to confirm the incident.
Ravi was the only earning member of his family. He leaves behind his wife and a four-year-old son. The family has sought help from the authorities to get some compensation and bring the body of Ravi to India.
Embassy confirms death, offers support
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh has confirmed the death on Friday, 20th March and expressed condolences. In a statement, it said, “The Embassy of India expresses its deepest condolences on the tragic demise of an Indian national in Riyadh due to recent events on March 18th. The Embassy is in touch with the family and local authorities. We remain committed to extending all possible assistance in this matter.”
The Embassy of India expresses its deepest condolences on the tragic demise of an Indian national in Riyadh due to recent events on March 18th.
— India in Saudi Arabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) March 20, 2026
The Embassy is in touch with the family and local authorities. We remain committed to extending all possible assistance in this…
Sources said that the death was caused by a missile strike that hit the area on Wednesday, 18th March.
India’s diplomatic outreach amid tensions
As tensions continue in the region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on Friday. Sharing details, he said, “Had a fruitful discussion with the King of Bahrain… Conveyed warm greetings on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr… We discussed the current situation in the West Asian region.”
He also condemned attacks on key infrastructure, saying, “Condemned attacks on the energy and civilian infrastructure in the region, underscoring their adverse impact on global food, fuel and fertiliser security.” He further stressed the need to keep global trade routes safe, adding, “Reiterated the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and keeping shipping lines open and secure.”
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also spoke with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. He said, “Shared our assessments of the ongoing West Asia conflict. Also discussed Indo-Pacific issues.”
Rising toll and ongoing efforts
Earlier, on 13th March, two Indians were killed and 10 others injured in a drone strike in Oman’s Sohar city. Before that, three Indian sailors had died in attacks on merchant vessels.
Officials said, “In total, six Indian nationals have lost their lives, and one remains missing in recent incidents. Mortal remains of two Indian nationals have already been repatriated to India.”
