India To Send Special Flights To Nepal As Protests Leave Hundreds Of Indians Stranded
India will operate special flights to bring back stranded citizens from Nepal after violent protests in Kathmandu forced the shutdown of Tribhuvan International Airport for more than 24 hours.
The Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation announced on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, that both Air India and IndiGo will operate additional flights to evacuate passengers stranded in the Nepalese capital.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed the development in a post on X, writing that many home-bound passengers were unable to return due to the sudden suspension of flight operations.
“With the opening of the airport operation in Kathmandu,
Due to airport closure in Nepal, many home-bound passengers were unable to return from Kathmandu. With the opening of the airport operation in Kathmandu, @MoCA_GoI, in coordination with Air India & IndiGo, has arranged additional flights this evening & over the next few days,…
— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) September 10, 2025
He also added that the government had advised airlines to keep fares at reasonable levels so that passengers are not burdened.
Tribhuvan International Airport resumed operations on Thursday, September 11, after being closed since Tuesday afternoon when protests in Kathmandu escalated into violence.
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The closure left hundreds of Indians and foreign tourists stranded at the airport. Several airlines have since confirmed that they will restart their normal services.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Indian Embassy in Nepal intervened to assist stranded citizens. Nearly 190 Indian passengers were moved out of the airport and provided temporary accommodation at local hotels.
The violent protests in Kathmandu, which began earlier this week, led to widespread disruption of daily life and created uncertainty for international travellers.
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For many Indian families, the suspension of flights came as a shock, with people left waiting in crowded terminals without clear information on when they could return home.
Officials expect most stranded Indians to be able to leave Nepal in the coming days. Air India and IndiGo are coordinating with the Indian government to prioritise passengers who had confirmed bookings earlier this week.
