Indian Tourists Injured as Bus Attacked Amid Nepal Unrest; Death Toll Rises to 51

Kathmandu, September 9 – A bus carrying 49 Indian tourists was allegedly attacked near Sonauli, along the India–Nepal border, on Monday, leaving several passengers injured amid the ongoing turmoil in Nepal.

The tourists were returning from Kathmandu after offering prayers at the Pashupatinath Temple when the incident occurred. According to the bus driver, Ramu Nishad, the vehicle came under sudden attack by a mob that began pelting stones without provocation.

“We were returning after darshan at the Pashupatinath Temple, when suddenly a mob surrounded our bus and attacked without reason. There were women and elderly people among the passengers, but the protesters did not care,” Nishad told reporters.

The stone-pelting shattered windows, injuring multiple passengers, including women and elderly tourists. The injured were rushed to a hospital in Kathmandu, officials confirmed.

The Indian Embassy, in coordination with the Nepalese authorities, later arranged a special flight to bring the remaining passengers safely back to India.

Meanwhile, the unrest in Nepal has escalated sharply, with the death toll in anti-corruption protests rising to 51, Reuters quoted a police spokesperson as saying. In the chaos, several jails across Nepal were stormed, allowing thousands of inmates to escape.

India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) reported apprehending 67 escapees, including a woman, while they attempted to cross into Indian territory through border checkpoints in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. Officials said the fugitives were detained after failing to present valid identification.

The crisis, which began with violent demonstrations marked by arson, vandalism, and attacks on correctional facilities, culminated in the resignation of Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday. With law and order deteriorating across several districts, the Nepal Army has imposed restrictions and curfews in sensitive areas to restore stability.