KATHMANDU- Air India (AI) and IndiGo Airlines (6E) have begun operating special flights to Kathmandu, Nepal, to bring back stranded Indians after violent protests shut down Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) for more than 24 hours.
Many Indian passengers were left stranded in Kathmandu (KTM) due to the suspension of flights. With the reopening of airport operations, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), in coordination with Air India (AI) and IndiGo (6E), arranged additional flights starting Thursday, September 11, 2025, to facilitate their return.
Photo: Harsh Tekriwal | AvgeekwithLensAir India and IndiGo Nepal Flights
The Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed on social media that extra flights have been scheduled for the coming days to ensure safe passage for citizens. He also directed airlines to maintain reasonable fares during the crisis period.
Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Nepal arranged temporary shelter and food for nearly 190 stranded passengers, ensuring their safety until commercial operations resumed. Many of them were housed in local hotels before being repatriated on the first set of relief flights.
Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) resumed flight operations on September 11, 2025, after being closed due to violent protests across Nepal.
Airlines quickly restarted scheduled services, with special repatriation efforts prioritized for stranded foreign nationals, including hundreds of Indians.
Kathmandu Airport; Photo- WikipediaPolitical Crisis in Nepal
Normalcy began to return to Kathmandu (KTM) on September 10, 2025, after two days of massive student-led protests turned violent, leaving 30 people dead.
The demonstrations, initially sparked by a government-imposed social media ban, expanded into broader anger against Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s government, with accusations of corruption and apathy.
The protests escalated into the storming of parliament and the burning of government buildings. In response, Prime Minister Oli resigned for the second time in two days, while the ban on social media was lifted.
The Nepal Army has since taken charge of security in the capital, deploying soldiers to maintain order.
Photo: Photo by Volker Meyer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/the-durban-square-in-kathmandu-nepal-14367175/Impact on Indians in Nepal
The crisis left hundreds of Indian nationals stranded across Nepal. Around 600 pilgrims on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra were stuck in Taklakot near the Nepal-China border. Others were stranded in Kathmandu (KTM), Pokhara, and popular tourist regions.
The Indian government issued an advisory urging its citizens in Nepal to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Indian carriers temporarily suspended regular operations, focusing instead on relief flights.
Kathmandu Airport; Photo- Sergey Ashmarin | Wikimedia CommonsSecurity Concerns Along the Border
In the wake of Nepal’s political collapse, security incidents spilled across the border. At least 22 escaped prisoners from Nepal were caught by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) along the Nepal-Uttar Pradesh (UP) border on September 10, 2025. Authorities remain on alert for further attempts to cross into India.
Reports on Former Nepal PM Khanal’s Family
The unrest also affected high-profile leaders. Former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal’s house in Kathmandu was set on fire by mobs.
His wife, Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar, sustained severe burn injuries during the attack and remains in critical condition at Kirtipur Hospital. Local reports on her health varied, but doctors confirmed she is stable, though critical.
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