Violent protests in Nepal over a now-withdrawn social media ban brought Kathmandu to a standstill on Monday, forcing the partial closure of Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal’s main international gateway.
Flights arriving from the southern side were halted due to poor visibility caused by smoke from fires set by protesters, according to aviation authority official Gyanendra Bhul. Tracking data from flightradar24.com showed several Indian flights circling Nepal’s airspace before being rerouted.
Two IndiGo flights – 6E1153 (Delhi–Kathmandu) and 6E1157 (Mumbai–Kathmandu) – were diverted to Lucknow airport after holding patterns over Kathmandu failed to clear.
The protests, spearheaded by Nepal’s “Gen Z,” were triggered by the government’s decision to ban several major social media platforms, including Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). The agitation escalated into widespread unrest over alleged government corruption, leading to attacks on residences of top leaders, including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who resigned on Tuesday.
Local reports said protesters set fire to homes of political figures and attacked Parliament on Monday, leaving at least 19 dead. Curfew has been imposed in Kathmandu and other cities, with schools ordered shut. Demonstrations continued Tuesday, with crowds demanding accountability for the killings.
