An Indian woman has issued an urgent plea for assistance after becoming caught in deadly protests in Nepal that have claimed at least 21 lives, including 19 civilians and three security personnel.
Upasana Gill, who travelled to Nepal for a volleyball tournament, described a harrowing escape when protesters set fire to her hotel in Pokhara and chased her with large sticks.
Stranded Indian Tourists seeks help amid Nepal Gen-Z Protest
“My name is Upasana Gill, and I am sending this video to Praful Garg. I request the Indian embassy to please help us. All those who can help us, please help. I am stranded here in Pokhara, Nepal,” Gill said in a video appeal.
“I had come here to host a volleyball league, and currently, the hotel where I was staying has been burned down. All my luggage, all my belongings, were in my room, and the entire hotel was set on fire. I was in the spa, and people were running behind me with very large sticks, and I barely managed to escape with my life.”
Gill emphasized that protesters were indiscriminately targeting tourists, stating: “They are not sparing tourists here. They don’t care if someone is a tourist. They are setting fires everywhere without thinking, and the situation has become very, very bad here.”
Nationwide Crisis Prompts Military Intervention
The anti-corruption demonstrations, organized by “Gen Z Nepal,” have drawn support from over half of Nepal’s 30 million population under age 30. The protests intensified Tuesday when Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned amid mounting pressure.
Protesters have attacked government buildings, vandalized Parliament, and targeted residences of senior leaders, including President Ramchandra Paudel. The Nepal Army has arrested 27 individuals involved in looting, arson, and violent activities, according to The Himalayan Times.
Nepal Army imposed nationwide curfew
As civilian law enforcement failed to contain the chaos, the Nepal Army imposed a nationwide curfew under the Local Administration Act of 1971, assuming full control of law and order. The curfew remains in effect until at least 6 AM Thursday, with potential extensions based on evolving conditions.
Security forces cited widespread arson, attacks on public property, and administrative failures during the protests as justification for military intervention, highlighting the severity of Nepal’s current political crisis.
