Published Oct 19, 2026 | 4:50 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 19, 2026 | 4:50 PM
Mohammad Rabbani
Synopsis: Mohammad Rabbani, a 29-year-old technician from Alathur in Palakkad, left India two years ago to build a better life in Riyadh. Injured in a Houthi missile-and-drone attack at Riyadh airport on October 10, he underwent multiple surgeries and remains under medical care. His family is now anxiously waiting for updates.
”He had booked his tickets to return home on October 23. He went to Riyadh two years ago and last came home 13 months ago. Now, we don’t even know whether he will make it home. We just want to speak to him at least once.”
Anshad’s voice trembled as he spoke to South First about his cousin Mohammad Rabbani, a man he describes as one of his closest companions since childhood.
For the family in Alathur, Palakkad, the date October 23 was supposed to mark the end of another long separation. Instead, it has become a day they can only think about with dread.
Rabbani, 29, had travelled to Saudi Arabia in search of work two years ago, taking up a job as a technician at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh. Like many young men from ordinary families in Keralam who leave home hoping to secure a better future, he had embraced the opportunity with excitement and the hope of giving his family a more comfortable life.
He could hardly have imagined that a missile and drone attack on the airport would leave him fighting for his life, thousands of kilometres away from his home, with his family unable even to hear his voice.
Nearly a week after the October 10 attack, Rabbani remains in a hospital in Riyadh, recovering from serious injuries to his stomach, hand and legs. Back home, his parents and younger brother wait anxiously for news, holding on to updates from relatives, his employer and the Indian Embassy.
For a family that has spent more than a year waiting for his return, the uncertainty is now far more painful than the distance that separated them.
Also Read: Kochi-Riyadh air traffic disrupted after Houthi missile attack claim, Indian Embassy issues advisory
Rabbani has undergone around four surgeries and spent the past few days in critical care. His condition has since improved, and he has been taken off ventilator support, according to Anshad.
”He was in critical care for the past couple of days. His condition has improved now, but we still haven’t been able to speak to him. We want to know how he is doing from him directly,” Anshad told South First.
Although the family has received updates from the Indian Embassy, Rabbani’s employer and the company manager, they have not been able to speak to him or make a video call since the incident. His medical condition and security fears in Saudi Arabia have added to their distress.
Rabbani works as a technician at the airport for a private company.
According to Anshad, the employer is bearing the cost of his treatment, while the company manager remains at the hospital to oversee his care.
For now, however, the family’s immediate concern is his recovery and whether they will get an opportunity to speak to him.
”His health is not stable enough for him to be transferred at present, so he will continue to receive treatment at the hospital,” Anshad said.
Rabbani’s parents, Ahmadkutty and Badharunnisa, are daily wage labourers who now find work only occasionally, depending on availability. Their financial circumstances make travelling to Riyadh to see their son extremely difficult. His younger brother, Mohammad Rajid, is also waiting for news.
The October 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport left several people dead and hundreds injured, according to reports. The strike reportedly caused extensive structural damage, including the collapse of a section of the terminal roof near the check-in areas.
Among those killed was Mohammed Yusuf, a 46-year-old Indian national from Hyderabad who was travelling with his family to perform Umrah. Several other Indian nationals, including Malayali workers, were reportedly seriously injured by shrapnel and falling debris.
The incident has also heightened anxiety among Indian families whose relatives work in the region. The Indian Embassy has issued advisories urging Indian nationals to follow the instructions and safety guidelines of the Saudi authorities as the situation remains tense.
For Rabbani’s family, however, the wider security situation is overshadowed by one deeply personal concern — whether the young man who left home to build a better future will recover enough to speak to them again.
His tickets were booked, his return was planned, his family was waiting.
Now, all they want is to hear his voice.
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(Edited by Sumavarsha)
