“I Felt Humiliated, Invisible, and Powerless”: Nepali Traveler’s Ordeal at Delhi Airport Sparks Outrage Over Systemic Bias

A distressing experience at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has ignited a public discussion about the treatment of Nepali travelers transiting through India. The debate was sparked by Shambhawi Adhikari, a youth delegate selected to attend the World Health Summit in Berlin, who took to social media to share her ordeal.

Ms. Adhikari’s trip was fully sponsored, and she had all her necessary documents—including her visa, flight, and conference materials—in order. She was attempting to connect to a Qatar Airways flight to Germany, having chosen a more affordable route by flying Air India from Kathmandu to Delhi.

Despite her complete documentation, Ms. Adhikari was stopped and subjected to a prolonged and intense interrogation by airport officials during her transit. She recounted being aggressively questioned on everything from her invitation and financial status to the details of the conference, with an unseen official cross-examining her over the phone.

The situation escalated when an officer declared her “length of stay was suspicious” and dramatically “tore [her] boarding pass right in front of [her].” She was then detained for eight hours without her passport or luggage, and denied basic amenities like food, water, or free movement. “I felt humiliated. I felt invisible. I felt powerless,” she wrote, adding that one officer allegedly told her she would now have a “dirty profile” and never be able to land in any European country.

The intervention of the Nepal Embassy was eventually required, leading to her return home via a Nepal Airlines Corporation flight after Air India refused to release her. The very next day, she successfully rebooked her flight, flying directly with Qatar Airways with a transit in Doha.

She noted a stark contrast: neither the new airline nor the German embassy questioned her documents. Upon finally arriving in Berlin, Ms. Adhikari was greeted by the German immigration officer with a simple, “Have a nice stay, Ms. Adhikari. Good luck with your conference.” This moment, she explains, crystallized her realization: “It was never about my documents.”

Ms. Adhikari’s account has been amplified by others,  Lok Tiwari, a Maryland-based Nepali community member, who issued a “Public alert: avoid travelling through Indian airports” on social media. Tiwari described the ground handling staff as “extremely unprofessional, rude, and unsympathetic,” specifically targeting Nepali travelers.

“They target passengers unnecessarily… and treat people as if they are a burden rather than paying guests,” he posted. He personally witnessed and experienced “disrespect, mistreatment, and zero sympathy for travelers,” urging Nepali passport holders to seek alternate transit routes to preserve their “dignity, and peace of mind,” concluding that these airports “fail to uphold basic standards of professionalism, human decency, and customer service.”

The social media posts have been widely shared, igniting a broader public discussion with a flood of similar negative encounters. Sushant KC detailed how a counter agent’s humble demeanor shifted instantly to rude upon seeing his Nepali passport, leading him to always avoid Indian airports despite the cost savings.

Other users, including Kamal Baj, Mamata Manandhar, and Aastha Subedi, echoed feeling targeted, with Subedi noting, “Sometimes it feels like no matter how hard one works, it is just not enough, as we are born in a certain geographical location that always puts us at a disadvantage.” Simon Rai summed up the sentiment, stating, “It’s not about the passport itself — it’s about the experience at Indian airports. Unfortunately, as soon as they see a Nepali passport, the treatment often changes.” 

This concern and incident are not isolated. A separate, earlier incident in March 2023 involved a couple with US legal permanent residency who were also denied boarding by an airline in New Delhi.

Ram Chandra Bhandari and his wife, US Legal Permanent Residents, were scheduled to fly from New Delhi to New York via Doha on Qatar Airways in March 2023. At the check-in counter, an airline agent reportedly stopped them solely because they were Nepali passport holders and requested a mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi.

Mr. Bhandari claims the agent refused to check their valid US Resident Permit card or even open the first page of their passport, insisting the NOC was a government requirement for travel through Qatar. The agent’s refusal to board them was despite an official circular issued by the Nepali Embassy, stating that Nepali citizens with valid US visas or Permanent Resident Permits no longer require an NOC from March 1, 2023, for transit through Gulf countries from Indian airports.

As a result of the agent’s alleged “arrogance, rude behavior, and unprofessional actions,” the couple’s essential trip was ruined. They were forced to cancel the flight, which led to significant financial loss, high anxiety, and concern over the wife’s urgent medical appointment in New York. They later returned to Kathmandu and took a different flight via a different route.

Nepali nationals traveling via Indian airports must be aware of specific requirements regarding the No Objection Certificate (NOC), especially when heading to certain destinations.

According to the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi, Nepali citizens traveling to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Libya, and Lebanon using Indian airports are required to obtain an NOC from the Embassy. Travelers to Russia, except for those holding scholarships from the Russian Government or business visa holders, must also secure an NOC from either the Embassy or the Department of Consular Services of Nepal.

However, Nepali citizens with a valid Foreign Employment Permit (FEP), issued by the Department of Foreign Employment in Nepal, are exempt from the NOC requirement. The authenticity of the FEP can be verified through the Department’s official website.

Moreover, Nepali nationals possessing valid residence cards or visas for the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Schengen countries do not need an NOC for travel to any destination. Exemptions also apply to holders of Nepali Diplomatic, Official, or Service Passports, United Nations Laissez-Passer (UNLP) holders, and Nepali minors under 16 years of age.

For those required to obtain an NOC, it is advised to contact the Embassy at least seven days before their intended travel date. Applications can be submitted via email along with the necessary documents, as detailed on the Embassy’s website.