Nepal Protest Live Updates: Nepal sets March 5 elections as interim PM Sushila Karki takes charge; PM Modi extends ‘best wishes’

Nepal's major political parties and apex lawyers' body have strongly criticised the president's decision to dissolve parliament, describing the move as "unconstitutional", "arbitrary" and a serious blow to democracy.

The criticism followed Friday's recommendation by the first cabinet meeting chaired by interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki to dissolve the House of Representatives, a proposal that President Ram Chandra Paudel promptly approved.

The house was dissolved with effect from 11 pm on September 12, 2025, according to a notice issued by the President's Office. The president also fixed March 21, 2026, as the date for holding fresh parliamentary elections, it said.

Political parties across the spectrum slammed the dissolution move. — PTI

The youth uprising in Nepal has an uncanny resemblance to the Arab Spring. While the immediate trigger for the Nepal protests appear to be the shutting down of social media by the government, the actual cause for this mass uprising is deeper and complex and can only be understood by scanning through the recent history of this Himalayan nation. Similarly, while the immediate trigger for the Egyptian Revolution in January 2011 was the uprising in Tunisia, the downfall of President Hosni Mubarak was aided by multiple factors. For one, the progressive and democratic forces in the country had been pushing for a freer society for years.

Then the simmering economic crisis in the country escalated with an exponential increase in the IMF debt and a dismantling of the public sector, which was replaced by a private sector controlled by Mubarak, his son, and their cronies. This enraged the Egyptian army leadership who had supported Mubarak unconditionally.

(Read full report here)

“No More Nepo Babies – We Demand Fair Opportunities!” read one banner at Nepal’s youth-led protests, which transformed into an expression of anti-establishment public anger over the past week. Key leaders have been unseated after decades of political instability and corruption, with the slogan capturing the frustrations of the youth. Even beyond Nepal, the practice of calling out nepotism has been enjoying an extended moment in the spotlight, be it the term “nepo kids” in India or “nepo babies” in the United States. According to Google Trends, which gives information on Google’s search queries, global interest in the term “nepo baby” saw a spike in December 2022.

(Read full report here)

On September 9, Manjil Pokharel, 23, stood at the police barricades near Nepal’s Parliament, swaying under the force of the heaving crowd around him. Moments later, at 2:15 pm, the barricades fell and he erupted in a joyous dance. Around him, hundreds of protesters chanted “Long live Gen Z”, a throbbing, collective voice that shook the heart of Kathmandu and brought the government down on its knees. Pokharel knew he had done his bit — as much for himself as for a larger cause.

“We were fed up with the corruption that we saw around us,” says Pokharel, who runs a hardware shop in Jhapa, a district in Koshi province of eastern Nepal. After his Class 12, he hoped to travel abroad, but failed to get a visa and now wants to enrol in a Bachelor’s course. Corruption has long been a byword for politics in Nepal, but this time, with social media amplifying the frustrations over a faltering economy and vanishing opportunities, the anger got a new edge.

(Read full report here)

Nepal's President Ramchandra Paudel dissolved parliament and called for fresh elections on March 5, his office said late on Friday, following a week of deadly violence that culminated in the appointment of the country's first woman Prime Minister in the interim. The announcement came just hours after Paudel appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki to lead the country, following the deadly "Gen Z"-led anti-graft protests that forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign.

The president "dissolved the House of Representatives ... and fixed March 5, 2026, Thursday for the elections", according to a statement from the president's office.

Karki was appointed after two days of intense negotiations between Paudel, army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel and the protest leaders behind Nepal's worst upheaval in years, which left at least 51 people killed and more than 1,300 injured. Nepal's southern neighbour, India, said it hoped that the developments would help foster peace and stability. "Heartfelt congratulations to the Honorable Sushila Karki Ji on assuming the office of Prime Minister of Nepal's interim government. India is fully committed to the peace, progress, and prosperity of Nepal's brothers and sisters," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X.

(Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his “best wishes” to Sushila Karki “on assuming office as the Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Nepal.” Posting on X, he wrote that India is “firmly committed to the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Nepal.”

Ending the political vacuum in Nepal following the fall of the K P Sharma Oli government after violent protests earlier this week, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as the interim Prime Minister on Friday night, making her the first woman to lead the country.

Karki, 73, was administered the oath of office by President Ramchandra Paudel who also dissolved the House of Representatives. Read More

India has extended a warm welcome to the formation of Nepal's new Interim Government, led by the Right Honourable Sushila Karki, expressing hope that her leadership will foster peace and stability in the region.

As a close neighbor, fellow democracy, and long-standing development partner, India is committed to continuing its collaborative efforts with Nepal to promote the well-being and prosperity of both nations and their people.

India has extended a warm welcome to the formation of Nepal's new Interim Government, led by the Right Honourable Mrs. Sushila Karki, expressing hope that her leadership will foster peace and stability in the region.

As a close neighbor, fellow democracy, and long-standing development partner, India is committed to continuing its collaborative efforts with Nepal to promote the well-being and prosperity of both nations and their people.

Karki was administered oath by President Ramchandra Paudel.

As Sushila Karki become Nepal’s first woman PM, in addition to being its first woman chief justice. It is interesting to note that in her student years, Karki was associated with the Nepali Congress, then struggling for democracy in the kingdom. After studying law in Banaras Hindu University, she dedicated herself to the legal practice in Nepal and married Durga Subedi, once her tutor. She would later call Subedi her “most dependable friend and guide in crisis and all seasons”.

Subedi, a leader of the Nepali Congress, was among four people who, in June 1973, hijacked a Nepal Airlines plane that was ferrying `40 lakh from Biratnagar to the Kathmandu Central Bank, forcing it to land at Forbesganj in Bihar’s Purnea district.

The money was handed over to G P Koirala, waiting there to purchase arms to give effect to the Nepali Congress’s plans for an armed struggle for democracy.

Karki, 73, was being sworn in on Friday night itself, and her first task would be to restore order after violence on the streets led to attacks on political leaders and their homes and properties.

Earlier in the day, Karki made it clear that she would head the interim government only if she was allowed a fair investigation into corruption in high places and excessive use of force by police that led to the death of at least 20 protesters.

“I will not be interested in the job if my hands and legs are tied and I am totally immobilised,” Karki was quoted as having said at a high-level meeting hosted by President Poudel and attended by the leaders of the three biggest political parties, Oli of the CPN (UML), Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ of the Maoist Centre.

Born on June 7, 1952, in Biratnagar, Sushila Karki pursued studies in political science and law before launching a distinguished career in advocacy and legal reform. She completed her Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Mahendra Morang Campus, Biratnagar, in 1972, earned a master’s degree in political science from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, in 1975, and obtained her law degree from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, in 1978.

Karki began her legal practice in Biratnagar in 1979 and worked as an assistant teacher at Mahendra Multiple Campus, Dharan, in 1985. She became a senior advocate in 2007. She was appointed an Ad-Hoc Justice at the Supreme Court on January 22, 2009, and became a permanent Justice on November 18, 2010. Karki served as acting Chief Justice from April 13 to July 10, 2016, and then as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from July 11, 2016, to June 7, 2017.

During her tenure, she presided over landmark cases on transitional justice and electoral disputes, reinforcing the judiciary’s role as a guardian of democracy. On April 30, 2017, an impeachment motion was submitted against her in Parliament by the Maoist Centre and Nepali Congress. The motion was later withdrawn following public pressure and an interim Supreme Court order barring Parliament from proceeding.

Ending political uncertainty in Nepal following the fall of the K P Sharma Oli government after violent protests, President Ram Chandra Poudel Friday appointed former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the interim Prime Minister, making her the first woman to lead the country.

Her appointment was announced by the President’s spokesman Kiran Pokhrel. The Nepal Parliament has also been dissolved.

The Transport Department of Delhi recently suspended the Delhi-Kathmandu bus service amid the ongoing unrest in Nepal.

Officials said the Nepal and Delhi governments operated two buses each on the Delhi-Kathmandu route, and both the buses run by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) are currently stuck in Nepal.

“As the current situation in Nepal is very bad… If we continue to operate our buses, both buses and people will suffer. So, we decided to suspend the service till the situation is under control,” said a senior transport official. Read the full report HERE

Nepal’s hospitality industry has taken a severe hit, with losses exceeding Rs 25 billion after nearly two dozen hotels across the country were vandalised, looted, or set ablaze during the recent student-led anti-government protests, My Republica reported Friday, citing the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN).

The Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu was the worst affected, suffering damages of over Rs 8 billion. Other prominent domestic and international hotels in Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Jhapa, Biratnagar, Dhangadhi, Mahottari and Dang-Tulsipur also faced widespread destruction.

HAN warned that many hotels may not reopen without major reconstruction, endangering the jobs of more than 2,000 workers. The association also expressed concerns about the sector’s ability to meet financial obligations, calling for a judicial probe, strict action against perpetrators, compensation, and an urgent government relief package to restore investor confidence in the tourism-dependent economy. (PTI)

A pilgrimage to Nepal’s Pashupatinath Temple turned tragic for a Ghaziabad couple when violent anti-government protests engulfed Kathmandu. Rajesh Gola and her husband, Ramvir Singh Gola, were staying at the Hyatt Regency when protesters torched the hotel on September 9.

In a desperate attempt to escape, the couple jumped from their fourth-floor window. While Ramvir survived, Rajesh succumbed to her injuries during treatment. Their son, Vishal, said his parents had extended their stay due to curfew restrictions but received no support from the Indian Embassy. On Friday, Ramvir returned home with his wife’s body, vowing never to visit Nepal again. Read the full report HERE

Nepal's hotel industry, a vital revenue earner of its tourism-driven economy, has suffered a loss of over Rs 25 billion after nearly two dozen hotels across the country were vandalised, looted or torched during the recent student-led anti-government protests, according to a media report on Friday.

Among the worst hit is the Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu, which alone reported damages exceeding Rs 8 billion, My Republica news portal reported, quoting a statement issued by the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN).

Other leading domestic and international brand hotels in Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Jhapa, Biratnagar, Dhangadhi, Mahottari and Dang-Tulsipur also bore the brunt of the violence, it said.

Many affected hotels will not be able to resume operations without repair and reconstruction, affecting the jobs of more than 2,000 workers, the HAN said.

The association expressed concern that the destruction would make it difficult for hotels to meet financial obligations to banks and other institutions. It demanded a judicial committee to investigate the incidents, bring the perpetrators to justice and announce compensation for the affected businesses.

It also urged the government to roll out an economic relief package to support repair and reconstruction, stressing that restoring investor confidence is vital for tourism development and the country's economic stability. (PTI)

At least 51 people, including an Indian national, have been killed in the violent ‘Gen Z’ protests sweeping Nepal, police said Friday, as anger over corruption and a ban on social media escalated into deadly clashes.

Senior Superintendent of Police Ramesh Thapa, spokesperson for Nepal Police, confirmed that among the dead were three policemen and dozens of Nepali citizens, The Kathmandu Post reported.

Of the total casualties, 36 bodies have been brought to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj for post-mortem examinations. Police said 17 more bodies were recovered from various parts of the country on Thursday and Friday. (PTI)

More than 150 Telugu people stranded in Nepal were rescued and brought back to Andhra Pradesh, with many thanking the state government for its efforts, the ruling TDP party said on Friday.

Several evacuees narrated their ordeal on arrival in video clips shared with journalists, claiming that the hotel in Pokhara where they were staying was allegedly set on fire.

“Our hotel in Pokhara was allegedly burnt, but Andhra Pradesh officials guided us to safety and brought us back home,” K Murthy, one of the passengers, said in the video byte.

Another evacuee, P Srinivas, said his group of 10 was stranded in Pokhara when unrest broke out. “The government of Andhra Pradesh helped us reach Vizag safely,” he said.

Prabhakar Reddy, who returned with his wife and 81 others, recalled, “I saw people pelting stones and burning buildings in Kathmandu. It was worse than a nightmare.” Many of the evacuees were Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) employees who had travelled on a planned tour. After their hotel in Pokhara was allegedly set ablaze, they took refuge in another hotel until assistance arrived. “We were told to remain where we were until help reached us,” they recounted. (PTI)

An Indian tourist bus returning from the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu was allegedly attacked by protesters amid the ongoing unrest in Nepal, leaving several passengers injured, the bus driver claimed.

The alleged incident took place on September 9 near Sonauli on the India-Nepal border, when the agitators targeted the bus carrying 49 Indians. Stones were reportedly pelted, shattering windows and injuring passengers, including women and the aged, the driver claimed.

According to reports, the local authorities admitted the injured to a hospital in Kathmandu, while the remaining passengers were flown back to India on a special plane arranged by the Indian Embassy with the help of the Nepalese government.

Talking to reporters in Sonauli, bus driver Ramu Nishad said: "We were returning after having darshan (at the Pashupatinath temple), when suddenly a mob surrounded our bus and attacked without reason. There were women and elderly people among the passengers, but the protesters did not care."

-PTI

Nepal authorities have announced temporary measures to facilitate foreign nationals stranded in the country.

According to Immigration officials, international travellers whose visas were valid through September 8 can now obtain exit permits and regularise their visas without paying additional fees. The facility will be available both at immigration offices and at departure points.

Authorities have also put in place arrangements for visa transfers in cases where visitors lost their passports during the disturbances.

Travellers carrying emergency passports or other travel documents issued by their respective embassies will have their visas transferred to the new documents under existing rules, ensuring a smooth departure from Nepal, the officials said.

- PTI

Discussions on forming an interim government under former Chief Justice Sushila Karki have been delayed on Friday. The meeting, which was expected to start at 9am, has begun as of midday. Om Prakash Aryal, who has been coordinating with Karki in recent days, said she will first meet senior advocate Baburam Kunwar, legal adviser to the President, before a decisive talks with President Ramchandra Paudel. - The Kathmandu Post

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Devaraj Ghimire, and Chairman of the National Assembly Narayan Dahal have called for resolving the country’s current crisis within the framework of the present constitution, The Kathmandu Post reported.

In a joint statement on Friday, they said President Ramchandra Paudel is taking initiatives to address the situation while respecting the people’s sovereignty, civil liberties, territorial integrity, national unity, and independence. They stressed that the rule of law and constitutionalism must not be bypassed. They also urged all parties to address the demands of protesters and commit to a stronger, more prosperous democracy.

The Nepal Army chief has reached 'Sital Niwas', the Nepali Rashtrapati Bhawan in Kathmandu.

Friends and family members of those who died in the police firing during protests held a candlelight vigil at TU Teaching Hospital premises in Kathmandu Thursday, The Kathmandu Post reported.

Nepal's police force is gradually resuming operations in the Kathmandu Valley, with police stations and posts that were vandalised or set ablaze during the protests earlier this week slowly coming back into operation, officials said on Friday.

Stations, beats and units damaged in the student-led unrest are gradually reopening, and Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel have reappeared on streets and around posts across the Valley, the Kathmandu Valley Police Office said.

The Kathmandu Post on its X handle, posted photos of charred shells of vehicles torched during the protests at Kathmandu Valley Police Office at Ratnapark.

A group of pilgrims from Tamil Nadu left for Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet crossing the India-Nepal border at Rupaidiha in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district.

Ganga Singh Udawat, Commandant of the SSB's 42nd Battalion, told PTI that a group of 23 pilgrims who had set out for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Kanchipuram reached Nepal border at Rupaidiha on Thursday. The group was to go to Kailash Mansarovar via Nepalganj. "The pilgrims were stopped in view of the deteriorating situation and curfew in Nepal. But they said they were going to the court of Lord Shiva and only he could protect them," Udawat said.

He added that later, after confirmation from the Armed Police Force in Nepal, the pilgrims were sent to Nepalganj.

“There were no ground staff or crew to attend to us, there was no food or even water, and we had hundreds of senior citizens and children in distress… We felt abandoned,” said Rupal Mehta, a resident of Parel, Mumbai, encapsulating the anxiety and helplessness felt by hundreds of Indian nationals stranded at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport after flight operations were abruptly suspended in the wake of escalating unrest in Nepal.

Hundreds of passengers, many from Mumbai and Ahmedabad, found themselves stuck at the airport for over 18 hours, with no information, assistance or basic amenities.

Read our full report here.

Fifty-four inmates who escaped from Bharatpur Jail in Chitwan have returned voluntarily.

On Wednesday morning, 740 inmates broke out of the overcrowded facility, which has a capacity of only 550. Chief of Chitwan District Jail Ravindra Dhungana said the escapees have begun to surrender gradually, many after receiving phone calls urging them to return. “The atmosphere on Wednesday was different. Everyone fled. Now they are coming back, perhaps realising the government will not leave them wherever they are,” Dhungana said.