Indian tourist bus attacked near India-Nepal border amid unrest, several injured

Nepal Unrest

An Indian tourist bus returning from the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu was allegedly attacked by protesters amid the escalating political crisis in Nepal, leaving several passengers injured.

The incident took place on September 9 near Sonauli, close to the India-Nepal border. According to a PTI report, the bus carrying 49 Indian nationals came under attack when protesters pelted it with stones, shattering windows and injuring multiple passengers, including women and elderly individuals.

Nepalese authorities admitted the injured to a hospital in Kathmandu, while the remaining passengers were evacuated and flown back to India on a special flight arranged by the Indian Embassy, in coordination with the Nepalese government.

"We were returning after darshan at Pashupatinath when a mob suddenly surrounded the bus and began pelting stones. There were women and elderly passengers on board, but the protesters showed no concern for anyone’s safety," bus driver Ramu Nishad said.

The attack appears to be linked to ongoing demonstrations led by a youth-driven movement known as Gen Z Nepal, which has been demanding the dissolution of Parliament and sweeping constitutional reforms.

On Thursday, the group held a press conference reiterating its demands, even as its representatives met with Nepalese President Ramchandra Paudel and Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel to discuss a possible resolution.

The nationwide protests have intensified in recent days, with the reported death toll rising to 34.