A religious trip to Nepal ended in tragedy for a Ghaziabad family after violent protests in Kathmandu turned deadly. On September 9, rioters set fire to a luxury hotel where several Indian tourists were staying. Rajesh Devi, 55, died in the blaze, while her husband, Ramveer Singh Gola, narrowly survived.
The couple had travelled to Kathmandu on September 7 to visit the famous Pashupatinath temple. But two days later, their hotel became a target as mobs torched government and private buildings.
Son Recalls Mother’s Last Moments
Devi’s elder son, Vishal, recalled the terrifying events. “The mob stormed the hotel and set it on fire. As the stairways got filled with smoke, my father broke the windowpane, tied sheets and jumped onto a mattress. My mother slipped while trying to climb down and fell heavily on her back,” he told The Times of India.
Rescue teams placed mattresses below the building and urged guests to jump. Ramveer and Devi leapt from the fourth floor. While Ramveer escaped with minor injuries, Devi suffered critical wounds and was admitted to a Kathmandu hospital. She died on September 10.
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Her body was brought to Ghaziabad through the Sonauli border in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj. The last rites are scheduled for Friday.
Family Blames Communication Blackout
Vishal alleged that the communication blackout in Nepal made things worse. “For two days, we didn’t know about their whereabouts. Finally, my father was found in a relief camp, but my mother died in the hospital,” he said. He also claimed that the family received “minimal” help from the Indian embassy.
Indian Tourists Rush Home
The violent protests in Nepal have left dozens of Indian pilgrims stranded. Many are now rushing back home through the India-Nepal border in Maharajganj.
One tourist who returned safely told ANI, “We were going to the Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal. However, due to the tense situation, we were unable to go there. The flight was cancelled because of the situation there. We are returning home now.”
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A group of 10 pilgrims from Muzaffarnagar, including local BJP leader Sunil Kumar Tayal, has been stuck in a hotel for three days. The group has sought help from state minister Kapil Dev Aggarwal.
Families From Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh are Stranded
At least 14 people from Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh are also stuck in Kathmandu. In a video message, one member said their hotel had run out of food. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav assured that efforts are being made for their safe return.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh has launched special evacuation efforts. On Thursday, 154 boarding passes were issued to stranded Indians. A charter plane brought 12 Telugu tourists to Nepalganj and another 10 to Kathmandu from Pokhara. Later, they boarded Indigo flights to India. Earlier, 22 Telugu nationals had already returned safely, confirmed state minister Nara Lokesh.
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