What began as a spiritual journey for a Dehradun family turned into heartbreak after violence broke out in Nepal’s capital.
On Sept 9, a hotel in Kathmandu was set ablaze during ongoing unrest. An Indian woman, Rajesh Gola, the wife of Doon-based transporter Rambir Singh Gola, lost her life trying to escape the fire.
According to The Times of India, the couple had traveled to Kathmandu on Sept 7 to offer prayers at the Pashupatinath Temple. Following the visit, they checked into the Hyatt Residency Hotel.
Around 11:30 pm on the night of the 9th, rioters attacked the hotel. The Golas, like others in the building, were trapped. In a desperate bid to escape, they tied together bedsheets to form makeshift ropes and attempted to climb down from a fourth-floor window.
According to the TOI report, during that escape, Rajesh slipped, fell, and sustained critical injuries. She was rushed to hospital by Nepal Army personnel but unfortunately succumbed to injuries and was declared dead. Her body was later handed to her husband.
Rambir Singh Gola is a well-known transporter in the Dehradun-Ghaziabad area. He runs M/s Ashoka Roadlines, employing over 150 people (drivers, cleaners, staff), operating roughly 100 trucks. Originally from Ghaziabad, Rambir maintains business and property in Dehradun. He has three children with Rajesh Gola — two sons and a daughter.
When rioting took hold, the escape attempt inside the hotel was chaotic. According to an ex-employee, Ravi Rana, the descent using bedsheets was “desperate and chaotic,” according to media reports.
Rambir Singh Gola and his family reached out for help from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. However, they allege that the assistance provided was mostly verbal assurances. Other Indians caught in similar situations in Nepal also complained that embassy helplines were not reachable during critical moments.
This appears to be the first reported Indian fatality in the recent unrest in Nepal. The incident has heightened concerns among Indian travelers, especially pilgrims, about safety during political unrest. Before the tragedy, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu had issued an advisory (on September 7) urging citizens to defer travel to Nepal and, for those already there, to stay indoors and exercise caution.
