Kathmandu: Tensions in Nepal escalated further on Thursday when a bus carrying Indian pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh was attacked by miscreants near Kathmandu. The vehicle, bearing a Uttar Pradesh registration number, was returning from a pilgrimage to the Pashupatinath Temple when it came under attack.

Stones were hurled at the bus, shattering its windows, and several passengers reported that their belongings were looted. According to reports, at least seven to eight passengers were injured in the incident.

Nepalese army personnel quickly reached the spot to assist the stranded passengers, while the Indian Embassy coordinated an emergency evacuation. The injured and other passengers were later airlifted to Delhi for safety. “The attackers broke all the glass panes with stones and looted our belongings,” the bus driver said, describing the chaotic attack.

Amid the unrest, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a fresh travel advisory for Indian citizens in Nepal, urging them to postpone non-essential travel until the situation normalizes.

“Indian citizens presently in Nepal are advised to shelter in their current places of residence, avoid going out onto the streets, and exercise all due caution,” the advisory stated.

The attack comes against the backdrop of the ongoing Gen-Z protests in Nepal, which began earlier this week over a government ban on social media platforms and widespread corruption allegations. Despite the ban being lifted, protests intensified, leading to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s resignation.

The death toll from the protests has now risen to 34, with over 1,300 people reported injured, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.

Earlier, a video surfaced showing Indian presenter Upasana Gill pleading for help from the Indian Embassy after being stranded in Pokhara, where her hotel was reportedly attacked and set on fire by protesters.

The leaders of the Gen-Z protests have now endorsed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as their choice for interim Prime Minister, citing her independence and integrity.