12-member team from Kochi college stranded in Nepal amid Gen Z protest

Kochi: A 12-member team, including students and teachers from Nirmala Arts & Science College, Mulanthuruthy, has been stranded in Nepal amid the unrest that led to the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Lalu P Joy, a teacher leading the group, confirmed that all members are safe. The Indian Embassy has advised them to remain at their current location until further notice.

The group left for Nepal on September 6 as part of a study tour. It includes two teachers and ten students. Their travel arrangements were handled by Kadambari Memorial College in Kathmandu.

"The violence broke out while we were in Kathmandu. We have seen the parliament building burning right before our eyes," Lalu told Onmanorama. He added that the Kadambari College authorities arranged a safe place for them to stay, about 7 km away from Kathmandu. 

Lalu said that their food and other essential needs are being taken care of for now. "All of us are safe. We are receiving food and other support. Embassy authorities have advised us not to venture outside the building. They assured us that the place where we are staying is safe," he said.

Lalu further said that their departure date has not yet been finalised and that the Embassy would inform them once it is safe to travel. "Our earlier plan was to reach Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh on September 13 and board a train to Kerala on September 14, expecting to arrive in Kochi on September 16. When we contacted the Indian Embassy, they instructed us to stay here until peace is restored in Nepal,” Lalu said.

A 40-member team from Kozhikode and Malappuram are also stranded in Nepal. The Indian Government is yet to make any official announcement on the citizens stranded in the violence-hit nation. 

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sought immediate intervention of the Centre to ensure the safe evacuation of tourists from Kerala stranded in Nepal. Vijayan said he wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking help in this regard.

"Wrote to @DrSJaishankar Ji seeking urgent intervention to ensure the safe evacuation of a group of tourists from Kerala stranded in Pokhara, Nepal, amid protests and arson in the area. The Govt of Kerala will extend full cooperation for all necessary coordination," he said in a post on X.

Nearly 19 were killed and over 300 were injured in the protest under Gen Z groups over a social media ban on Monday. Though the government revoked the ban, protests continued for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, defying restrictions on public gatherings. Following this, Oli resigned from the post of Prime Minister, and the Nepal Army took control of the nationwide security on Tuesday night. The Nepal Army on Wednesday imposed nationwide restrictive orders followed by a curfew to quell possible violence under the guise of protest.