Air India cancels Delhi-Kathmandu flights amid ongoing protests in Nepal
New Delhi, September 9: Air India has canceled multiple flights operating on the Delhi-Kathmandu-Delhi route as violent protests in Nepal extended into a second day. The affected flights include AI2231/2232, AI2219/2220, AI217/218, and AI211/212, all of which will not operate today.
In an official statement, an Air India spokesperson stated, “Due to the ongoing situation in Kathmandu, the following flights—AI2231/2232, AI2219/2220, AI217/218, and AI211/212—on the Delhi-Kathmandu-Delhi route have been canceled for today. We are actively monitoring the situation and will provide further updates. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority.”
The cancellations come amidst escalating unrest in Nepal following Prime Minister KP Oli’s resignation, which has triggered a wave of violent protests throughout the country. Local media reported that Oli’s resignation was confirmed by his secretariat, while four ministers had previously resigned in protest.
The protests, largely led by the country's youth, have turned violent, with at least 19 protesters killed in clashes with police. Hundreds more have been injured in Kathmandu and surrounding areas, where demonstrations have focused on government corruption and a social media ban. The protests reached a boiling point on Monday, with around 500 people injured and 19 deaths reported in clashes near the Federal Parliament and other key sites in the capital, according to The Himalayan Times.
Despite the government lifting the social media ban late on Monday night in response to the violence, the protests reignited just hours later. Demonstrators, accusing the government of widespread corruption, returned to the streets, and on Tuesday, a large group of protesters breached the western gate of the Singha Durbar, the seat of Nepal's government, in a dramatic show of defiance, as reported by The Himalayan Times.
