'Hotel set ablaze, chased by mobs': Indian volleyball player pleads for rescue in Nepal

Indian volleyball player Upasana Gill, who had gone to Nepal to participate in a league, has issued a desperate call for assistance after being stranded in Pokhara amid violent protests that have already claimed at least 19 lives. The unrest, which began as opposition to a social media ban, has spiraled into mass demonstrations against corruption and nepotism, ultimately leading to the resignation of Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Gill recounted her terrifying ordeal when protesters attacked her hotel, forcing her to flee while leaving all her belongings behind.

"My name is Upasana Gill, and I am sending this video to Praful Garg. I request the Indian embassy to please help us. Everyone who can help, please do. I am stranded in Pokhara, Nepal," she pleaded in her video message.


She explained how the hotel she was staying in was set ablaze: "I had come here to host a volleyball league, and the hotel where I was staying has been burned down. All my luggage and belongings were inside. I was in the spa when people started chasing me with large sticks, and I somehow managed to escape with my life."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Prafful Garg (@praffulgarg)

According to Gill, the situation on the ground has turned extremely dangerous, with demonstrators targeting both residents and visitors.

"The situation is terrible. Fires are being set on roads everywhere. They are not sparing tourists. They don’t care if you are here for travel or work. They are burning everything without hesitation," she said.

Her appeal was deeply emotional: "We don’t know how long we can stay in another hotel. I request the Indian embassy to rescue us. Many people are with me here. Whoever can, please share this video and make sure it reaches the embassy. With folded hands, I beg you to help us. We are stranded."

Amid the growing turmoil, Prime Minister Oli stepped down after protesters entered his office. In his resignation to President Ram Chandra Paudel, he wrote: "Considering the worsening situation in the country, I resign effective today to enable a solution and ensure resolution in line with the constitution."

To contain the crisis, the Nepal Army has imposed restrictive orders across the country, limiting movement from morning until 5 pm, followed by a night curfew until 6 am. The army has warned that any act of protest, vandalism, arson, or violence against individuals and property during these hours will be treated as a criminal offense.

What started as student protests against social media restrictions has now widened into a nationwide uprising against corruption and nepotism, plunging Nepal into unrest.