Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday after 19 protestors were killed during clashes with security forces on Monday.
Published Sep 09, 2025 | 10:44 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 09, 2025 | 10:49 PM
Synopsis: The Ministry of External Affairs has advised Indian citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Nepal and issued emergency helplines amid violent student-led protests. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu urged citizens to exercise caution, avoid gatherings and stay indoors, as widespread demonstrations targeted political leaders’ homes and public buildings.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has advised Indian citizens against all non-essential travel to Nepal, following widespread protests and violence in the neighbouring country and the collapse of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s government.
The ministry has also issued emergency contact numbers for Indian citizens in Nepal. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu urged citizens to remain cautious.
“Please call +977 980 860 2881 or +977 981 032 6134 for help. Avoid gatherings and stay indoors,” it said in a statement.
Violent demonstrations targeting the homes of political leaders and the parliament have been reported from several parts of Nepal.
Commercial flights between Delhi and Kathmandu were widely cancelled after Tribhuvan International Airport was temporarily closed.
The Karnataka Chief Minister’s Office said efforts are underway to safely return 39 citizens from the state who are stranded in Nepal.
“Due to nationwide large-scale and sudden protests by students and youth in Nepal, a tense situation has arisen across the country. As a result, 39 Kannadigas stranded at Kathmandu airport are to be safely brought back to the state,” the statement said.
“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed the state’s Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to take necessary steps in this regard. The Chief Secretary has already held discussions with the concerned authorities and initiated appropriate action,” it added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has assured Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurien that urgent steps will be taken to ensure the safe repatriation of over 3,000 Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims, including several from Kerala, who are stranded in Darchen, Tibet, following the closure of the Nepal border.
The pilgrims, caught in the unexpected border shutdown, had informed Kurien of their plight. Responding to their concerns, the minister reached out to the MEA, urging immediate intervention. The ministry has conveyed that necessary arrangements will be made to bring the pilgrims back at the earliest.
Sources at the AP Bhavan in Delhi told South First that they have received reports of at least 41 residents from Andhra Pradesh stranded in Nepal. Authorities are coordinating with the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Nepal Embassy.
Residents of the state stranded in Nepal can contact:
For additional assistance:
Kerala has set up a dedicated NORKA Help Desk to assist Malayalis stranded in Nepal.
The desk will operate through the NORKA Global Contact Centre, which can be reached on the toll-free number 1800 425 3939 or by giving a missed call to +91 8802012345.
For emergencies, the Embassy has provided dedicated lines on +977 9808602881 and +977 9810326134 (WhatsApp call).
NORKA officials said the help desk will serve as a nodal point to coordinate information and provide support to affected Keralites.
Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday after 19 protestors were killed during clashes with security forces on Monday.
The initial spark for the protests was a government order banning 26 social media sites and apps, but it quickly escalated into a larger mass movement against corruption.
Despite curfews, protestors, largely students, continued to turn out across the country on Tuesday, targeting political elites, storming public offices and residences including the federal parliament building in Kathmandu, often setting them on fire.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
