United States Consulate General Kolkata, India
In the afternoon of June 8, protests in Darjeeling, West Bengal turned violent including the destruction of some police vehicles. On June 9 a strike has been called from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (IST), and the city is currently calm with both police and Army presence. The West Bengal government has assisted tourists who wish to depart the area with transportation.
As a reminder, U.S. government employees are required to notify the U.S. Consulate in Kolkata when they will be traveling in this region.
Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. You should avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.
Review your personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings, including local events; and monitor local news stations for updates. Maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security.
For further information about security in India:
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and India Country Specific Information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler-Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Contact the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata (Calcutta) at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone +91-33-3984-2400; fax +91-33-2282-2335. The Internet home page address is https://in.usembassy.gov/.
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
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