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Cremation of Nepal Gen Z protest victims performed with state honour

Seventy-two people, including 3 policemen and 10 prisoners, were among the dead during the violent protests on September 8 and 9 that toppled the government led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.

People carry mortal remains at the funeral of their relative who was killed in the violence during recent anti-government protests at the Pashupatinath temple ghat. (PTI Photo)

Funerals of some of the victims of Gen Z protests were performed on Tuesday at Pashupati Aryaghat in Kathmandu with state honour, while some bodies were taken to various districts for cremation.

Four bodies were taken to Pashupatinath near the bank of the Bagmati river for cremation with state honour, an official at the Pashupati said.

Minister for Energy and Physical Infrastructure Kulman Ghising and Minister for Home Affairs Om Prakash Aryal joined the family members of the deceased for the last rites.

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The funeral procession started from the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj of Kathmandu, where the bodies were kept for postmortem, and ended at Pashupati with thousands present to pay tribute.

Six dead bodies were taken outside Kathmandu to various districts for cremation after their postmortem on Tuesday, the officials said.

The rest of the bodies were handed over to the family members after the postmortem on Sunday and Monday.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Sushila Karki had announced that those killed during the Gen Z protest on September 8 and 9 would be declared “martyrs”.

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The government has announced NRs. 1.5 million compensation each to the family of the victims. There will be a public holiday on Wednesday to mourn the death of the protestors. The national flag will be put at half-mast.

Seventy-two people, including 3 policemen and 10 prisoners, were among the dead during the violent protests on September 8 and 9 that toppled the government led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.

Meanwhile, several ministries in Nepal began assessing the damage caused during the Gen Z protests, My Republica news portal reported on Tuesday.

They have started collecting data on burnt cars, damaged equipment and properties.

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The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) has formed a nine-member damage assessment committee to gather information on losses at the ministry’s departmental, divisional, and project offices, it reported.

The MoPIT building sustained minor damage during the protests. The main office of the Department of Roads (DoR) at Babarmal, reconstructed just two years ago for NRs 15 million, saw significant damage with many burned vehicles.

DoR continued road construction and maintenance work nationwide despite the damage caused to its offices. “Damage and destruction have not halted our work anywhere. Road construction and maintenance continue,” My Republica quoted a DoR employee as saying.

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