Nepal unrest: Andhra govt kicks off process to evacuate 217 stranded Telugu citizens; IndiGo aircraft to fly to Kathmandu

Amaravati : Andhra Pradesh government, in coordination with the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, and Nepalese authorities, has launched a drive to evacuate stranded Indian citizens from Nepal.

A comprehensive plan has been prepared with support from the Indian government and local authorities in Nepal.

The Nepal Army has taken charge of security, with military personnel deployed across the capital. Over the past two days, protests in Nepal escalated quickly into violence and the storming of government buildings. Following this, the Indian government issued an advisory to Indians in Nepal, urging them to stay indoors and refrain from moving around. Several Indian airlines have also stopped flights to and from Kathmandu.

The `Gen Z’ protests in Nepal, which began in response to a government ban on social media, expanded into a larger campaign reflecting growing public criticism of the K.P. Sharma Oli dispensation.

A total of 217 citizens from Andhra Pradesh have been traced across Nepal, and all are in regular contact with authorities. Of these, 173 are in Kathmandu, 22 in Hetauda, 10 in Pokhara, and 12 in Simikot near the Nepal–China border.

Of the stranded Indians, 118 (55%) are women and 98 (45%) are men. Nearly 70% are above 50 years of age, with 31% above 60 years. The largest groups are from Visakhapatnam (42), Vizianagaram (34), and Kurnool (22), with others spread across 22 districts.

Situation on the Ground :

• Communication with stranded citizens confirms that the situation has stabilised after the Nepal Army took control.

• A curfew is in force till 6:00 AM tomorrow (Thursday), after which movement will be permitted.

• Citizens in Kathmandu are staying in hotels at varying distances (1 km–4.5 km) from the international airport.

Evacuation Plan :

• Kathmandu: An IndiGo aircraft (capacity 218) has been readied in Delhi and will fly to Kathmandu on Thursday.

• Subject to clearances, the flight will depart from Kathmandu in the afternoon on 11th September.

• Passengers will be escorted to the airport under security provided by the Nepal Army.

• Simikot: 12 citizens will be moved by a Nepalese airline tomorrow morning to Nepalgunj (UP border). Helicopters are on standby in case the flight is cancelled.

• Pokhara: Efforts are underway to arrange a 14-seater charter flight to Nepalgunj, subject to Nepalese Air Force clearance, followed by road movement to Lucknow.

• Hetauda: 22 citizens have begun road travel towards Raxaul (Bihar border). The DM and SDM of Motihari, Bihar, have been briefed to assist with immigration. AP Bhawan will coordinate onward movement to Andhra Pradesh.

The government assured all families that every effort is being made to evacuate and bring back all 217 stranded citizens safely.