New Delhi: Nepali students studying in India have put their travel plans on hold and are frequently contacting their families, worried about their safety amid violent protests sweeping their homeland.

The protests, initially started by students under the banner of ‘Gen Z’ against a government ban on social media, have grown into a broader movement highlighting public anger at Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s government and the political elite over alleged corruption and perceived indifference toward citizens’ concerns.

Prime Minister Oli resigned for the second consecutive day amidst widespread demonstrations, even as the social media ban was lifted late Monday night. Protesters have stormed government offices, set parliament buildings on fire and attacked the homes of several prominent leaders. The violence followed reports of 19 deaths across the country.

Against this backdrop, Nepali students in India are living with uncertainty and anxiety.

A master’s student at Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) said he had cancelled plans to visit his hometown near Kathmandu for the Dussehra festival.

"I was looking forward to being with my family, but they have advised me to stay back in Delhi until the situation there stabilises," he said.

Manoj Chaudhary, pursuing an MBA at IIT-Dhanbad and hailing from Birgunj in Nepal, said the situation in his hometown was calmer than the capital but he has postponed his trip home.

"I was planning to visit Nepal soon, but now all my plans are on hold. My family is safe, but I am worried about Kathmandu, where buildings have been set on fire and students have lost their lives. That should never have happened. I only hope peace returns quickly," he said.

Another Delhi University student, whose immediate family lives with her in Delhi while her grandparents and extended relatives remain in Nepal, expressed deep concern.

"I am deeply worried about them. Every day we hear news of protests turning violent, and it is painful not knowing how safe they are," she said.

A first-year DU student said he was shaken by the reports of deaths and destruction.

"I never thought students would be killed for raising their voice. It feels like the country is being torn apart," he said. "I used to ask friends here to visit Nepal for its beauty, but now I feel sad about what is happening," adding that he checks in with his family every few hours.

A PhD scholar at South Asian University, who previously studied at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said the unrest has been distressing even though her family lives in a relatively safer rural area.

"When your country suffers, you feel helpless sitting far away. The violence was tragic, but I hope the protests open the way for something positive," she said.

Another DU student revealed he had indefinitely postponed his trip home.

"I was supposed to see my parents later this month, but I can't take that risk now. All I do is wait for messages from family and friends, hoping they are safe," he said.

The Indian government has advised its citizens to postpone travel to Nepal until conditions stabilise.

PTI