Nepal has become the third country in India’s immediate neighbourhood to see a violent uprising topple its government in recent years.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned after more than 20 people died in clashes with police during anti-government demonstrations triggered by a social media ban.
A nationwide curfew is in place and the army is attempting to bring the situation under control after protesters stormed parliament and set fire to the homes of several politicians.
For many, the scenes in Kathmandu were reminiscent of the turmoil that gripped Bangladesh last year, and Sri Lanka in 2022.
Though Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are also India’s close neighbours in South Asia, Delhi’s relationship with Kathmandu is special because of historic people-to-people, economic and strategic ties.
Nepal shares a largely open border of more than 1,750km (466 miles) with five Indian states; Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Bihar and West Bengal.
Delhi is keenly watching developments across the border, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi swiftly reacting to the unfolding events.
“The violence in Nepal is heart-rending. I am anguished that many young people have lost their lives,” Modi wrote in a post on X on Tuesday.
Stressing that “stability, peace and prosperity of Nepal are of utmost importance”, he appealed to “all my brothers and sisters in Nepal to support peace”.
Modi also chaired an emergency security meeting with his cabinet colleagues on Tuesday to discuss the situation.
