With deadly protests engulfing Nepal, hundreds of Israelis are believed to be stranded throughout the Himalayan country.

About 200 Israelis have sought shelter in Kathmandu’s Chabad House, with more asking for help all the time, according to Rabbi Chezky Lifshitz, co-director of Chabad in Kathmandu.

“We’ve been hearing shooting all day long. There has been a lot of violence,” Lifshitz told The Times of Israel in a phone call Tuesday evening. “Our center is in a closed place, so a lot of people have been coming here to find some peace. The roads are blocked, and people are stopping to ask where they can go. We know a lot of people who have gotten hurt in the fighting, and we are trying to help wherever we can.”

Tourists from Israel and around the world are stranded in Nepal after its main airport was closed due to the deteriorating situation. Nepal has long been a popular destination for Israeli backpackers.

Nepal is experiencing some of its worst political unrest in decades after protesters took to the streets.

The protests gained momentum after the use of lethal force by police on Monday left at least 19 dead and hundreds injured.

On Tuesday, rioters set fire to government buildings, including the federal parliament building in Kathmandu, as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced his resignation.

The protests were sparked by a........

© The Times of Israel