High Alert on India-Nepal Border as KP Sharma Oli Steps Down Over Gen-Z Agitation

India has tightened security and issued a high alert along its border with Nepal following violent protests in the Himalayan nation that forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) voiced concern over the ongoing Gen Z-led protests in Nepal, urging all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the situation through dialogue. The ministry also issued an advisory for Indian nationals in Nepal, advising them to stay cautious amid the recent unrest.

Oli's resignation came after two days of unrest that began with demonstrations against a since-revoked social media ban but quickly escalated into a broader demand for regime change over corruption allegations.

At Panitanki in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, paramilitary forces and police were deployed, with trucks stranded as cross-border trade was partially disrupted, ANI reported. District Superintendent of Police Praveen Parkash said, "A police post has been set up here with deployment of force. We are on alert mode and monitoring the situation," adding that there were no reports of people being stranded.

Similar security measures were also stepped up in Uttar Pradesh and other Indian states sharing borders with Nepal.

Earlier in the day, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued an advisory urging Indian nationals in Nepal to exercise caution. The ministry expressed condolences for lives lost in the violence and stressed the importance of dialogue. "As a close friend and neighbour, we hope that all concerned will exercise restraint and resolve issues peacefully. We have also noted the imposition of curfew in Kathmandu and several other cities. Indian nationals in Nepal are advised to follow guidelines issued by Nepali authorities," the MEA said in a statement.

The unrest also disrupted air travel, with Air India cancelling multiple flights on the Delhi-Kathmandu-Delhi route, including AI2231/2232, AI2219/2220, and AI217/218. "In view of the current situation prevailing in Kathmandu, these flights have been cancelled today," an airline spokesperson confirmed.

Meanwhile, India's border guarding force, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), intensified patrols to prevent any spillover of the turmoil into Indian territory. Officials clarified that the alert is "preventive in nature" and the situation remains under control, with strict checks enforced at several outposts.

The 1,751-km-long India-Nepal border runs across Uttarakhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Sikkim. Citizens of both countries are allowed free movement under longstanding bilateral arrangements, which, while fostering socio-economic and cultural ties, require stronger vigilance during times of political unrest in Nepal.

India has previously issued similar alerts during internal crises in Nepal, including the 2015 Madhesi protests that disrupted trade and cross-border movement.