The US State Department has recently updated a travel advisory for India, urging travellers to “exercise increased caution” due to “crime and terrorism”.

 

“Rape is one of the fastest-growing crimes in India. Violent crimes, including sexual assault, happen at tourist sites and other locations,” the advisory read.

 

Foreigners often face challenges and concerns while visiting India. In a harrowing incident, a 30-year-old French national in Udaipur for an advertisement shoot was allegedly raped earlier this week by a member of an event management firm, according to Indian media reports.

 

NDTV quoted Udaipur Superintendent of Police (SP) Yogesh Goyal as saying, “On Sunday evening, some French tourists were at a restaurant called Greek Farm with some employees of an event management company. They had a meal together and also consumed drinks. The survivor has said that she went in the car with one Siddharth (also known as Pushparaj Ojha), who then took her to his hotel room and sexually assaulted her.”

 

The travel advisory said that terrorists may attack with little or no warning, adding, “They target tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities.”

 

"The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in rural areas. These areas stretch from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal. Due to risks, US government employees working in India must obtain special authorisation to travel to these states," the advisory said.

 

Specifying the do's and the don'ts, the advisory cautioned its citizens to not carry out a satellite phone or a Global Positioning System (GPS) device in India, as it’s illegal in the country and may result in a penalty of $200,00 or jail time of up to three years, noting, “Do not travel alone especially if you are a woman.”

 

“We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.”

 

Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOKJ) was mentioned for extra caution, as the advisory listed out some spots where US government employees should not travel without prior permission.

 

The advisory informed the travellers that violence occurs in tourist spots in “Kashmir Valley: Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam", adding that the Indian government does not allow foreign tourists to visit certain areas along the LOC. 

 

It instructed the tourists to not travel to Central and East India due to “terrorism” as Naxalites are active in a large area of India that spans from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal.

 

"US government employees working in India also need approval to travel to the eastern region of Maharashtra and the eastern region of Madhya Pradesh. US citizens are advised not to cross the India-Nepal border by land due to the risk of immigration related detention and fines," it said.

 

Regarding Manipur, the advisory further advised the US employee against travelling in the state, saying they must get “prior approval before visiting Manipur”.