What was meant to be a peaceful pilgrimage turned into a nightmare for a family from Ghaziabad, after violent protests in Nepal led to a deadly hotel fire in Kathmandu, killing one woman and leaving dozens of Indian tourists stranded.

Ramveer Singh Gola (58) and his wife Rajesh Gola had travelled to Nepal on September 7 to visit the revered Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Just two days later, on the night of September 9, chaos erupted as protesters set their luxury hotel on fire.

The incident occurred amid growing unrest led by Nepal’s youth — dubbed "Gen Z protests" — demanding more government transparency and the lifting of a controversial social media ban. Demonstrations quickly escalated into violence, with mobs attacking government buildings and private properties.

According to family members, the Golas were staying on an upper floor of the hotel when rioters torched the lower levels. In a desperate attempt to save his wife, Ramveer tried to lower her down using curtains. Tragically, she slipped and fell, suffering critical injuries. Rajesh Gola died en route to the hospital due to excessive bleeding.

Her body was brought back to their home in Master Colony, Ghaziabad, on Friday morning. Friends, neighbours, and relatives gathered to pay their last respects.

Rajesh's elder son, Vishal, recounted the traumatic chain of events. “The mob stormed the hotel and set it ablaze. Smoke filled the stairways. My father broke a window, tied bedsheets together, and jumped onto a mattress. But while my mother was trying to climb down, she slipped and fell hard on her back,” he told The Times of India.

Vishal also said the family struggled for two days without any communication. “We had no idea where they were. Eventually, we found out that my father was rescued and taken to a relief camp, but my mother couldn’t survive,” he said. He also claimed that the Indian embassy provided “minimal” support during the crisis.

As violence and political unrest continue to grip Nepal, many Indian tourists have been left stranded, with several cutting short their trips. The India-Nepal border in Maharajganj has seen a surge of returning tourists trying to make their way home.

“We went to Nepal to visit the Pashupatinath Temple, but the situation became so tense that we couldn’t even step out. Our flight was cancelled. We’re just glad to be heading home now,” one returning tourist told ANI.

A group of 10 pilgrims from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh — including local BJP leader Sunil Kumar Tayal — has reportedly been stuck in their Kathmandu hotel for three days. Tayal has reached out to Uttar Pradesh minister Kapil Dev Aggarwal for help.

In Madhya Pradesh, at least 14 people from four families remain stranded in Kathmandu. A member of the group shared a video message stating that their hotel had run out of food. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said efforts are underway to bring them home safely.

The Andhra Pradesh government has ramped up evacuation operations. On Thursday alone, 154 boarding passes were issued to stranded Indian tourists in Kathmandu.

Twelve Telugu tourists were flown to Nepalgunj on a chartered flight, and another group of 10 arrived in Kathmandu from Pokhara. Both groups were later flown to India via Indigo flights. According to state minister Nara Lokesh, 22 Telugu nationals had already returned safely earlier this week.

As protests continue to disrupt life in Nepal, Indian authorities and state governments are working to ensure the safe return of all stranded citizens. But for families like the Golas, the pain of this trip will last a lifetime.