DTC suspends its Delhi-Kathmandu bus service amid unrest in Nepal

The Delhi-Kathmandu international bus service operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) was suspended amid the chaos in the neighbouring nation, officials said on Wednesday.

The student-led 'Gen Z protests' in Nepal that began against a government ban on social media expanded into a larger campaign reflecting growing public criticism of the KP Sharma Oli dispensation and the country's political elite over alleged corruption and apathy towards the common people.

"The bus service is being suspended. This service, known as the Delhi-Kathmandu Maitri Bus Sewa, symbolises the strong ties between India and Nepal and remains a popular choice for travellers. We are suspending it as of now and will resume it once the situation normalises," an official told PTI.

Refunds will be issued to passengers who had made bookings, another official added.

The bus covers a distance of 1,167 kilometres, with a fare of Rs 2,800. It operates six days a week, with DTC buses running on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Nepal's Manjushree Yatayat buses running on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

DTC deploys Volvo buses for the route, while Manjushree Yatayat uses Marco Polo buses.

Prime Minister Oli resigned in the face of massive protests, even as the ban on social media was lifted on Monday night. The demonstrators stormed many government buildings and set parliament as well as homes of several high-profile leaders ablaze, a day after 19 people died in violence.