A pale of gloom has descended on Baghain village in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur district, after Ravi Gopal, a 26-year-old labourer from the village, lost his life in a missile attack in Riyadh amid the war in the Middle East. However, the family is struggling to repatriate Ravi’s body, alleging that authorities have largely remained silent so far.
On the night of March 18, after completing his work at a factory, Ravi was speaking on the phone with his wife, Ritu, when a sudden explosion occurred. The call disconnected abruptly, and his phone went dead shortly after.
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Ritu recounted that their call began around 8:20 PM and was normal until the explosion was heard in the background at 9:53 PM, after which the connection was lost. Despite repeated attempts, the family could not reach him again. The next day, a friend informed the family about Ravi’s death in a missile strike.
On March 18 (Wednesday), Saudi Arabia claimed it downed four Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Riyadh, and some debris fell near a refinery south of the city. The Indian national likely died after being hit by falling debris.
Ravi was the sole earner for his family, which included his parents, wife and a four-year-old son. Ravi had married Ritu in September 2020 and had been working in Saudi Arabia since then.
The family has alleged that they have received no concrete assistance from the government so far. The family also reported the incident to police officials, who assured them of swift action. However, Ravi’s body has not yet been repatriated to India.
The Gulf states host lakhs of Indian expatriates, many of whom work in the construction, healthcare, hospitality, and finance sectors.
So far, six Indians have been killed amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
On March 14, two Indians were killed following a drone strike in Sohar, Oman. A week ago, an Indian national was killed in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia, when an Iranian missile, meant to target radar systems, hit a residential area.
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Published By:
Aprameya Rao
Published On:
Mar 21, 2026 11:08 IST
