Nepal unrest: Bars become refuge for over 200 Karnataka tourists in Kathmandu

Nepal violence

Over 200 tourists from Karnataka remain stranded in Kathmandu after being forced out of hotels and even the city’s airport, with many now taking refuge in shuttered bars and restaurants while awaiting evacuation. The Hindu reported that the group, which includes a 130-member contingent from the Isha Foundation on a Manasarovar tour, has been left in precarious conditions since Tuesday.

Tourists informed that hotels in Kathmandu had asked guests to leave on Tuesday morning, citing safety concerns as tensions escalated in the city. Hoping for relief, many rushed to Tribhuvan International Airport, only to be told they could not remain inside because of pending clearances. By Wednesday, they were left with no option but to seek shelter in closed establishments.

“With hotels about 30 minutes away and no commute options available, we had no choice but to find shelter in bars and restaurants, which are not in service. Food, medical shops and other services are all shut down. We have been moving from one bar to another since Tuesday evening,” Rajani Maski, one of the stranded travellers, was quoted by The Hindu as saying. She added that the streets felt unsafe, with groups of youths speeding on motorbikes, forcing tourists to move in small groups and sometimes under military escort.

Officials in Bengaluru and New Delhi have been in constant contact with the travellers. The Chief Secretary’s office in Karnataka and the Resident Commissioner of Karnataka Bhavan in the capital are reportedly coordinating with the Union government, which has begun operating evacuation flights between New Delhi and Kathmandu. Two flights were reportedly arranged on Wednesday evening, with more scheduled for Thursday morning.

While the Union government manages the airlift, the Karnataka government is preparing to facilitate the return of its residents to Bengaluru from New Delhi. However, an official in Bengaluru admitted that the plan had not been finalised as of Wednesday evening, acknowledging that “there are several challenges involved and the team is addressing them.”

The ordeal has taken a toll on the tourists, many of whom reported going without meals for long stretches due to food shops being closed. Groups from Karnataka also joined forces with fellow Indians from Mumbai and Delhi, relying on Hindi speakers to help with communication and to identify safe spots to wait.

The disruption has also cast a shadow over future travel plans. S. Mahalingaiah of the Karnataka Tourism Society was cited by The Hindu as saying that tours scheduled from mid-September have been cancelled or rerouted to other destinations such as Sri Lanka and Rishikesh. Families in Bengaluru who had already booked trekking holidays and pilgrimage trips to Nepal have now abandoned their plans, wary of the uncertainty.