Indian Woman Dies After Kathmandu Hotel Set Ablaze During Violent Protests

A religious trip to Nepal ended in tragedy for a Ghaziabad family after rioters torched a luxury hotel in Kathmandu, killing an Indian woman and leaving several other tourists stranded.

According to a report by Hindustan Times Ramveer Singh Gola (58) and his wife Rajesh Gola had traveled to Kathmandu on September 7 to visit the Pashupatinath temple. However, on the night of September 9, violent protesters set their five-star hotel on fire.

The unrest in Nepal began on September 8, led largely by "Gen Z" demonstrators demanding government transparency and an end to the social media ban. Protesters attempted to storm parliament and set ablaze both government and private properties as the agitation turned violent.

According to family members, Ramveer and Rajesh were staying on the upper floors of the hotel when rioters set fire to the lower levels. In an attempt to escape, Ramveer tried lowering his wife with the help of a curtain, but she slipped and fell. Rajesh sustained critical injuries and succumbed to excessive bleeding while being taken to the hospital.

Her body was brought back to Ghaziabad on Friday morning around 10:30 am, where grieving relatives and neighbors gathered at their Master Colony residence.

Son Recalls Final Moments

Rajesh's elder son Vishal recounted the horrifying escape attempt. He said, "The mob stormed the hotel and set it on fire. As the stairways filled with smoke, my father broke a window, tied bedsheets together, and jumped onto a mattress. My mother slipped while climbing down and fell heavily on her back."

Vishal also alleged that the family faced difficulties due to communication blackouts. "For two days, we had no idea where they were. Eventually, my father was located in a relief camp, but my mother died in hospital," he said. He further claimed that support from the Indian embassy was "minimal."

Indian Tourists Rushing Back

The violence has left many Indian pilgrims stranded across Nepal, prompting urgent evacuation efforts. At the India-Nepal border in Maharajganj, a surge of returning tourists was seen as many cut short their trips.

One pilgrim told ANI, "We were going to the Pashupatinath Temple, but due to the tense situation, we couldn't. Our flight was canceled, so we are returning home."

In Muzaffarnagar, a group of 10 pilgrims, including BJP leader Sunil Kumar Tayal, has been confined to their Kathmandu hotel for three days. They have appealed to Uttar Pradesh minister Kapil Dev Aggarwal for help. Similarly, at least 14 people from four families in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, remain stranded in the Nepalese capital. In a video message, one of them said their hotel had run out of food.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav assured that efforts are underway for their safe return.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh has stepped up evacuation. On Thursday, 154 boarding passes were issued to stranded Indians in Kathmandu. A chartered plane carrying 12 Telugu tourists landed safely in Nepalganj, while another with 10 passengers arrived in Kathmandu from Pokhara. These groups later boarded Indigo flights to India. Earlier, 22 Telugu nationals had already been evacuated, according to state minister Nara Lokesh.