IndiGo suspends flights to Kathmandu till 6 pm amid Gen Z protest
IndiGo and SpiceJet have suspended all flights to and from Kathmandu until September 10 due to ongoing protests and airport closure. The cancellations stem from violent demonstrations in Nepal, triggered by a social media ban and demands for gover...
By ET Online |
Reuters
IndiGo, on Wednesday announced the suspension of all flights to and from Kathmandu until 6 pm on September 10, following the extension of the airport closure in the Nepali capital due to ongoing protests. The airline had earlier halted operations until 12 pm but extended the suspension after authorities kept Kathmandu Airport closed.
"Following the extension of the airport closure in #Kathmandu, all flights to and from the city will remain cancelled until 1800 hrs on September 10," IndiGo said in a statement.
The airline has also introduced flexible options for passengers travelling to and from Kathmandu until September 12. These include waivers on rescheduling and cancellations for bookings made on or before September 9. IndiGo said its teams are coordinating with authorities and will resume services once permissions are granted.
SpiceJet also cancelled all its flights to and from Kathmandu for September 10, citing the same disruption.
The cancellations come amid violent protests in Nepal led by the country’s youth, widely described as the Gen Z movement. The protests began on September 8 after the government banned major social media platforms, citing tax and cybersecurity concerns. Demonstrators are demanding an end to corruption and greater transparency in governance, along with the revocation of the ban.
Clashes between protesters and security forces have left at least 19 people dead and over 500 injured. Authorities have imposed curfews in several cities, including Kathmandu, to control the unrest.
On Wednesday, the Nepali Army announced prohibitory orders until 5 pm, followed by a nationwide curfew starting from 6 am on September 11. The Army said further decisions will depend on the security situation.
In the political response, President Ram Chandra Paudel is expected to meet protest leaders today in an effort to pursue dialogue after accepting the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday.
The protests are also fuelled by Nepal’s ongoing jobs crisis, with nearly 5,000 young people leaving the country each day in search of work abroad.
(With ANI inputs)
"Following the extension of the airport closure in #Kathmandu, all flights to and from the city will remain cancelled until 1800 hrs on September 10," IndiGo said in a statement.
The airline has also introduced flexible options for passengers travelling to and from Kathmandu until September 12. These include waivers on rescheduling and cancellations for bookings made on or before September 9. IndiGo said its teams are coordinating with authorities and will resume services once permissions are granted.
SpiceJet also cancelled all its flights to and from Kathmandu for September 10, citing the same disruption.
The cancellations come amid violent protests in Nepal led by the country’s youth, widely described as the Gen Z movement. The protests began on September 8 after the government banned major social media platforms, citing tax and cybersecurity concerns. Demonstrators are demanding an end to corruption and greater transparency in governance, along with the revocation of the ban.
Clashes between protesters and security forces have left at least 19 people dead and over 500 injured. Authorities have imposed curfews in several cities, including Kathmandu, to control the unrest.
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On Wednesday, the Nepali Army announced prohibitory orders until 5 pm, followed by a nationwide curfew starting from 6 am on September 11. The Army said further decisions will depend on the security situation.
In the political response, President Ram Chandra Paudel is expected to meet protest leaders today in an effort to pursue dialogue after accepting the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday.
The protests are also fuelled by Nepal’s ongoing jobs crisis, with nearly 5,000 young people leaving the country each day in search of work abroad.
(With ANI inputs)
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