Riyadh, March 20 – India confirmed on Friday the death of an Indian national in Riyadh on March 18 due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia stated that it remains in contact with the family and local authorities and assures all possible assistance.
"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 contact with the family and local authorities. We remain committed to extending all possible assistance in this matter," the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia posted on X.
The death of the Indian national has been confirmed amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which erupted on February 28 after US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top military officials.
On March 15, the Indian Embassy urged Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines and advisories issued by the local authorities and the embassy. It mentioned that the Embassy of India in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah, along with its outsourced services through Visa Facilitation Services (VFS), continue to function normally.
In a statement on X, the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia stated, "In view of the prevailing situation in the region and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, all Indian Nationals currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are advised to continue to remain vigilant, strictly adhere to the safety guidelines prevalent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and follow advisories issued by the local authorities and the Embassy. In particular, Indian nationals should refrain from circulating or reposting any videos or news related to ongoing events."
"The Embassy of India, Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah and its outsourced services through VFS, are continuing to function normally and will issue updates and advisories as and when necessary. Consular Camps are being undertaken on a regular basis," it added.
According to the statement, Indian and Saudi airlines continue to operate regular schedules to Indian destinations from Jeddah and Madinah. While Saudi airlines continue to operate from Riyadh and Dammam to Indian destinations, Indian airlines have resumed operations from Riyadh, according to the statement.
The embassy stated that Indian nationals who want to travel to India may avail any of these flights after checking availability. It also issued 24x7 helpline numbers for Indian nationals to contact the embassy in case of emergency.