'Only 1 charging point for 1,000 people': Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims from Bengaluru marred by chaos at Kathmandu Airport

BENGALURU: What was meant to be a spiritual journey to the Himalayas turned into a nightmare for 38-year-old Rajani Maski and her husband Raghuveer Yavagal from Bengaluru.

Maski, who travelled with a group of 130 devotees from Isha Foundation to Mansarovar, is now stranded at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport for over 24 hours, caught in the middle of Nepal's escalating political unrest.


"We don't know what to do. The airport gates are shut, they won't let us out, and the military and police are pushing us back inside. There is no food, no water, and no shops open to even buy something to eat," she said in a distressed voice, speaking to TOI.

Like her, there are scores of people from Karnataka, especially Bengaluru, stranded in Nepal, waiting for help to return home.

Rajani and her husband were in Manasarovar, Nepal, for the past 10 days as part of a pilgrimage tour. "About 130 people travelled from Bengaluru on Aug 24 to Manasarovar and returned to Kathmandu on Monday at 10.30pm. But instead of peace, we were welcomed by chaos on the streets."

Rajani said, "We reached the hotel around 10.30pm. There was smoke everywhere, and wooden planks and tyres were burning. There weren't many people on the streets, but a sense of fear lingered in the air." She and her husband left for the airport on Tuesday, hoping to catch a 1pm flight to Bengaluru.

However, their hopes quickly vanished when they arrived at the terminal to find shuttered gates, cancelled flights, and heavy barricades.

"It was frightening. Thankfully, the hotel staff helped us book a cab and ensured a driver dropped us safely at the airport. But things only worsened once we got inside," Rajani said. Inside the terminal, confusion reigned. Close to 500 to 1,000 passengers were packed into the airport, with nearly 200 from Karnataka alone, she claimed. Most travellers, like her, did not carry food or water, assuming they would be able to purchase something at the airport. But with shops shuttered and no supplies available, desperation grew. "We are stuck in a closed room like prisoners. People are panicking, some are crying, and others are falling sick. There is only one charging point for everyone, which makes it even more difficult to stay connected with our families back home," she said.

Several stranded passengers have been trying to book hotel rooms outside the airport, but the volatile situation in Kathmandu has made that uncertain. "Many are debating whether to leave the airport and find safer shelter, but the streets are chaotic. It feels like we are trapped either way," she said.