The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, D. N Dhungyel, has confirmed that Bhutanese nationals in Nepal, including pilgrims, officials, and those working with international agencies, are safe despite the ongoing unrest.
Lyonpo said that few Bhutanese pilgrims who had traveled to Nepal had already returned on 11th September 2025 while others are expected to arrive in the coming days according to their ticketing schedules.
“As of now, to the people we have spoken to, the message that we have got is they are safe at the moment and their travel plans are on different dates,” said Lyonpo D. N Dhungyel.
He clarified that the ministry does not have the exact number of Bhutanese pilgrims currently in Nepal. Some of them that were contacted have informed that they are safe and that they are coming back.
However, Lyonpo shared that a group of Bhutanese pilgrims faced difficulties while trying to return. They traveled by air to Kathmandu and later by road, but they were stranded at the India–Nepal border in Kakarbhitta. He said, “They couldn’t cross the border or were not allowed to cross, and our Consulate is already working and trying to bring them back”. As of Thursday evening, the group was still at the border, but the consulate division is working to resolve the issue.
Official delegations have also safely returned. A team of Members of Parliament from National Council and National Assembly who were in Nepal came back. Another delegation from the Ministry Home Affairs also returned safely via India.
Meanwhile, Bhutanese working in international organizations in Kathmandu, including the SAARC Secretariat and ICIMOD, have reported to the ministry that they are safe and working from home.
Lyonpo D. N Dhungyel also confirmed that the airport in Kathmandu is open, and flights are back on schedule. He said there have been no reports of Bhutanese students facing difficulties. “If they are in problem, they will definitely try to contact us somehow, but nothing apparently has come to us. Nothing about any difficulty that they are facing has come to us,” he said.
To monitor the situation, Bhutan is receiving regular updates from the Honorary Consul of Bhutan in Kathmandu, Dorje Gyaltsen Lama, as well as Bhutanese officials working with international agencies such as SAARC and ICIMOD.
The Bhutanese also spoke to a man leading a group of Bhutanese pilgrims to Lhasa, Phub Tshering. He said his group is safe and is circumambulating the famous Boudha Stupa in Kathmandu while chanting mantras. They also encountered other Bhutanese pilgrim groups during Chorten Kora, who assured them that they were safe as well.
“There is no risk at all to us or to outsiders because the protest is towards the government by their youth. Just yesterday, the police stations were closed, so unless we go there and engage, there is no risk. The situation at present has also become much calmer,” he said.
He shared that most Bhutanese pilgrim groups he met were safe. However, one group of his acquaintances, traveling from Lhasa, was diverted to Pokhara after being denied landing at Kathmandu airport for safety purpose.
According to him, strikes in Kathmandu have now subsided and a mass cleaning effort is underway across the city.
Nepal has been witnessing widespread protests since the government banned 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube on 4th September for failing to register with authorities. The ban triggered massive demonstrations starting from 8th September, particularly by young people, against corruption, unemployment, nepotism and shrinking freedoms.
The protests turned violent, after 19 youths and students were killed in clashes with security forces with injuries to dozens more on 9th September. In response, the government lifted the social media ban, but it was too late as massive and angry crowds of mostly youths poured out on 10th September burning the Parliament, Supreme Court, ministers’ houses and attacking ministers, political leaders and former Prime Ministers.
Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned amid the turmoil, adding to political uncertainty.
On 11th September the army took control of the streets but there was still sporadic violence. The total death toll is 51 till date.
