Americans Cautioned on Unrest in Nepal

The American Embassy in Katmandu, Nepal, has urged Americans in the Himalyan kingdom to “exercise extreme caution and avoid nonemergency travel” due to “serious civil unrest in Katmandu and other major metropolitan areas.” The embassy’s statement was quoted in a Dec. 27 public announcement from the State Department that is effective through Feb. 28.

The announcement followed rioting that left four people dead in Katmandu, the capital. The rioting was prompted by a rumor that Indian film star Hrithik Roshan had told an interviewer he hated Nepal and its people; Roshan denied making the comment. Violence continued last week. The unrest comes amid a resurgence of tourism in Nepal, which hosts more than 400,000 visitors each year, officials say. Tourism is Nepal’s No. 1 industry.