Nepal protests: Karnataka families stranded in Kathmandu left with only bars and restaurants for shelter

Families from Karnataka who had been waiting at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu for evacuation until Tuesday (September 9, 2025) afternoon have since then been forced to move between bars and restaurants, the only places still open, after being asked to vacate both their hotels and the airport.

With regular transport halted, and shops, including pharmacies and food chains closed, the tourists have no choice but to wait, unsure when flights will resume.

On Tuesday (September 9) morning, several hotels in Kathmandu asked guests to leave, citing fears that escalating tensions could put occupants at risk. Many of the tourists, including a 130-member team from Karnataka that arrived on August 25 for a Manasarovar sacred tour, then went to the airport in hopes of being evacuated.

Travellers told The Hindu that they were initially informed an Indigo flight would operate on Tuesday. By Wednesday (September 10) morning, however, they were told multiple clearances were still pending.

“With hotels about 30 minutes away and no commuting options available, we had no choice but to find shelter in bars and restaurants. Food, medical shops, and other services are all shut. We have been moving from one bar to another since Tuesday (September 9) evening,” Rajani Maski, a traveller from Karnataka said. Some were accompanied part of the way by military vehicles, while others walked in groups of twos and threes. The streets felt unsafe, with youths moving on two-wheelers, she added.

Government response

According to State government sources, more than 200 people from Karnataka remain stranded in Kathmandu. The Chief Secretary’s office in Bengaluru, along with the Resident Commissioner of Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, has been in touch with the travellers. State officials have also held discussions with the Ministry of External Affairs, and measures are being taken to bring back tourists from Karnataka safely under the Chief Minister’s instructions.

Indian carriers IndiGo and Air India have suspended flights to and from Kathmandu due to airport closure and the prevailing security situation. Government officials said all stranded travellers are currently safe, though uncertainty remains over when evacuation will be possible.

Travel plans disrupted

Meanwhile, several travellers from Karnataka, who had planned trips to Nepal in the coming week, have cancelled their bookings and rescheduled journeys to destinations such as Sri Lanka and Rishikesh.

Officials from the Karnataka Tourism Society said tours scheduled to begin on September 14 for five nights and six days have been cancelled or diverted to other destinations, including Sri Lanka and Rishikesh.