US issues advisory urging citizens to exercise ‘increased caution’ while travelling to India

The United States has issued an advisory urging its citizens travelling to India to exercise “increased caution” due to incidents of crime and terrorism, adding that certain parts of the country have heightened risks.

The Level 2 advisory issued by the US Department of State on June 16 said that “rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India”. It added that violent crimes, including sexual assault, happened at tourist sites and other locations.

Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, the department said, adding that they “target tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls and government facilities”.

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

The department asked its citizens not to travel to Jammu and Kashmir, except for visits to the eastern Ladakh region and its capital Leh, due to “terrorism and civil unrest”.

“Terrorist attacks and violent civil unrest are possible,” it said. “Violence happens sporadically in this area and is common along the Line of Control [LOC] between India and...

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