Nepal Gen Z Protest Highlights: Gen-Z proposes ex-chief justice Sushila Karki as interim PM

The death toll from the September 8 youth-led protests in Nepal climbed to 30, the Ministry of Health and Population confirmed on Wednesday evening, according to ANI.

In its update, the ministry reported that 1,033 people were injured nationwide during the unrest. Of those, 713 have already been discharged, 55 were referred to other facilities, while 253 remain hospitalised. The Civil Service Hospital in Kathmandu is treating the highest number of patients with 436 cases, followed by the National Trauma Centre with 161 and Everest Hospital with 109. In total, 28 hospitals across the country are handling protest-related injuries.

Authorities said emergency services were on high alert to cope with the influx of patients.

The September 8 demonstrations, led largely by Gen-Z students and young people, erupted in Kathmandu against the government’s social media ban and broader grievances such as corruption and lack of economic opportunities. The KP Sharma Oli-led administration defended the ban as a measure against misinformation, but rights groups criticised it as censorship.

At least 19 people were killed on the first day of protests, with the toll rising steadily in the days since. (ANI)

Eminent Nepalese jurist Sushila Karki, who has emerged as a probable face to lead an interim government in the violence-wracked Himalayan nation, is a former chief justice who carries a reputation for a no-nonsense, anti-corruption stance.

While she lacks political and executive experience, it’s this anti-graft reputation that has prompted Nepal’s Gen Z protesters to put forward her name as interim prime minister. Read HERE

It was after years of waiting that Lucknow-based doctor Sujay Sidhan finally realised his dream of undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra as the pilgrimage resumed this year after being halted in 2020. What Sidhan did not anticipate was that widespread youth-led protests in Nepal would leave him, and hundreds of other Indian pilgrims like him, stranded in a small town in Tibet.

“Darchen is a town with limited accommodation. People coming back from parikrama [the ritual walk around Mount Kailash] generally have sickness and need to recover in hotel rooms equipped with oxygen support. Since those like us who have already completed the parikrama and are not able to return and make space for others, we are now being moved by local (Chinese) authorities to other smaller towns on the China-Nepal border without any idea of what awaits us,” Sidhan told The Indian Express from Darchen.

Read the Full report HERE

Amid escalating political turmoil in Nepal, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to intensify surveillance along the state’s border with the neighbouring country.

Chairing a high-level meeting via video conference on Tuesday night, Dhami instructed district administrations, police and security forces to keep a close watch on anti-social and disruptive elements through intensive checking at border points. He stressed the need for strict monitoring of entry routes and heightened vigilance on cross-border movement.

The meeting, attended by Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, DGP Deepam Seth and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) officials, reviewed the evolving situation. Dhami asked authorities in the three bordering districts—Pithoragarh, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar—to ensure close coordination with central security agencies and the SSB.

He also called for enhanced community participation in border security, urging villagers, local committees, police and forest officials to work collectively in strengthening surveillance systems. Monitoring of social media to counter rumours, misinformation and provocative content was also emphasised.

The chief minister directed strict adherence to security guidelines issued by the Centre and assured deployment of additional forces if required. Officials said the meeting also discussed strengthening intelligence networks and improving coordination with central agencies to deal with potential security challenges in border areas. (PTI)

Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has reopened after a two-day shutdown prompted by violent unrest in the Kathmandu Valley, The Himalayan Times reported.

According to a public notice issued by the TIA Civil Aviation Office on Wednesday, the decision to resume operations came after a meeting of the airport’s security committee, which reviewed the situation and cleared flights to resume.

China on Wednesday called on Nepal to resolve its internal crisis peacefully and restore stability, after days of violent youth-led protests forced Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to resign.

“China and Nepal are traditional friendly neighbours,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press briefing in Beijing, urging “all sections of Nepal” to “properly handle domestic issues” and bring back social order “as soon as possible.”

This was Beijing’s first official response to the turmoil in Kathmandu. Lin refrained from commenting directly on Oli’s resignation, even though the former prime minister was seen as close to China and had played a key role in strengthening Kathmandu’s ties with Beijing.

Oli, who attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and China’s September 3 military parade commemorating the victory over Japan in World War II, stepped down on Tuesday after unprecedented protests against corruption and a controversial social media ban engulfed Nepal. (PTI)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the Bengal tourists stranded in violence-hit Nepal will be brought back in couple of days.

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “Our relationship with Nepal is strong. We want the situation to get normal in Nepal. The government is committed to ensuring the safety of the Indians there.”

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane, who was reportedly let out to speak to inmates at Nakkhu Prison on Tuesday, has reportedly been released to safeguard other prisoners, according to The Himalayan Times.

He was reportedly detained in connection to a cooperative savings case.

Visuals from outside the Supreme Court that was set ablaze during violent protests.

China Foreign Ministry, on Wednesday, said that as of now, it has not received any reports of Chinese nationals hurt in the Nepal protests. It further said that it has called on Kathmandu to safeguard the security of Chinese nationals, institutions.

On Nepal PM resigning, it said, "hope people in Nepal can properly handle domestic issues."

The Gujarat government has reached out to the Centre for the safe return of people from the state, including tourists and students, caught up in Nepal, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said Wednesday.

The Centre has assured Gujarat that care is being taken for the safety of Indians stranded in Nepal, which has been hit by violent anti-government protests, state minister Rushikesh Patel said.

“The state administration is in constant contact with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding the safe return of Gujarati tourists and students caught up in incidents of political instability and violence in Nepal. In this regard, I have given necessary directions to the state's officials,” CM Patel tweeted.

Nepal reeled under a serious political crisis on Tuesday when Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned in the face of massive protests for a second day, with the demonstrators storming many government buildings and setting the parliament as well as homes of several high-profile leaders ablaze, a day after 19 people died in violence.

“After the Nepal incident, Bhupendrabhai has taken note of all our expatriates and Gujarati people there. A lot of people from Gujarat visit Nepal as tourists,” minister Rushikesh Patel told mediapersons on Wednesday morning.

He said the CM is concerned about the safety and well-being of the Gujaratis in Nepal.

The state government has contacted the Centre, which has assured that all Indians are being taken care of, he said.

Over the past two days, “Gen Z” demonstrations have escalated sharply, resulting in at least 19 deaths and more than 500 injuries in clashes around the Federal Parliament and other parts of Kathmandu. Demonstrators torched several government buildings, including the parliament.

The MEA on Tuesday issued a travel advisory for Indian citizens in view of the prevailing situation in Nepal.

In its statement, the MEA urged Indians to avoid non-essential travel to Nepal until the situation stabilises. Those already in the country have been advised to remain indoors, avoid stepping out on the streets, and follow all local safety advisories issued by the Nepalese authorities and the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.

The ministry also shared emergency contact numbers for assistance. The Embassy of India in Kathmandu can be reached on "+977-980 860 2881 (WhatsApp call also) and +977-981 032 6134 (WhatsApp call also), it said.

(PTI)

Prisoners at Dillibazar jail attempted to break out. Many of the escaped inmates have taken to the streets and are chanting slogans, reported The Kathmandu Post.

Armed Police Force (APF) conducts patrolling in Kathmandu, a day after violent anti-government protests swept across the nation.

IndiGo Airlines on Wednesday issued a travel advisory announcing the suspension of all flights to and from Kathmandu until 6 pm on September 10.

"Following the extension of the airport closure in #kathmandu, all flights to and from the city will remain cancelled until 1800 hrs on September 10. We fully understand the uncertainty this may cause and want to assure you that flexible options remain open. We continue to extend waivers on rescheduling and cancellations for travel to and from Kathmandu until September 12, applicable for bookings made on or before September 9," the airline said in a statement.

"While operations are on hold, our teams are actively coordinating with the relevant authorities and remain fully prepared to restore services as soon as permissions are granted. Regular updates will continue to be shared through our official channels. We thank you for your patience and cooperation," it added.

The Andhra Pradesh government has set up an Emergency Cell at Andhra Bhavan in New Delhi to assist Telugu-speaking citizens stranded in Nepal, which is witnessing civil unrest.

Andhra Pradesh Bhavan Commissioner Arja Srikanth said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu asked Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and officials of Andhra Bhavan to extend all possible support.

"In view of the ongoing unrest in Nepal, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has set up an Emergency Cell at AP Bhavan, New Delhi, to provide immediate support and ensure the safety of Telugu citizens currently stranded in Nepal," said Srikanth in a press release issued late on Tuesday.

According to Srikanth, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu in Nepal has assured complete cooperation, and around 30 Telugu people in Bafal, Kathmandu, are currently being assisted with food, accommodation, and medical aid.

The Commissioner said that an official has been designated as the emergency nodal officer at AP Bhavan.

He noted that the TDP-led government is in constant touch with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu to monitor the situation and safeguard Telugu people.

A few Telugu families staying at a Hotel in Kathmandu were shifted to a nearby guest house after reports of agitators gathering outside and threatening arson, he added.

The Emergency Cell is functioning round-the-clock, coordinating with the embassy and local representatives to ensure the safety and welfare of Telugu people in Nepal, the release added.

(PTI)

The Nepali Army has urged foreign nationals stranded in Nepal due to the current complex situation, to contact the nearest security agency or security personnel deployed nearby.

"All foreign nationals who have come to Nepal for various purposes and are stranded due to the current complex situation and are awaiting any assistance, including rescue, are requested to contact the nearest security agency or security personnel deployed nearby. In addition, it is requested that hotels, tourism businesses or other organizations related to such foreign nationals provide the necessary coordination and facilitation for rescue and assistance," the military said in a statement.

Amid the civil unrest in Nepal, hundreds of tourists, including around 200 from Karnataka, remain stranded in the capital Kathmandu owing to the sudden cancellation of flights and are waiting to return to India, even as uncertainty looms.

“We were stranded in the airport for 10 hours and were later transferred to a hotel as the situation continued to escalate. We don’t know how to return to Bengaluru,” said Karnataka-based woman Rajani Maski. She is among 130 members of a team from the state that landed in Kathmandu on August 25 for a trip to Manasarovar. While their plan was to return to Bengaluru on Tuesday, the change in situation has left them worried.

(Read full article)

Over 500 inmates escaped Nawalparasi West District Prison after setting it ablaze and raising slogans demanding release, reported The Kathmandu Post.

The Nepal Army on Wednesday, citing threats to public security, said the prohibitory order in the country was in force and will remain effective until 5 pm following which a nationwide curfew will be imposed until 6am Thursday, The Kathmandu Post reported. The Army issued a statement saying that in the name of the movement, the unruly groups carried out attacks on individuals and property and attempted sexual assaults.

"In the name of movement, various lawless individuals and groups are still infiltrating and committing acts such as vandalism and arson, vandalism and violent attacks on individuals, and attempts to intimidate, keeping in mind the overall security situation of the country, the curfew currently imposed will continue throughout the country until 5 pm (1700 hrs) on Bhadra 25, 2082 and thereafter the curfew order will continue until 6 am (0600 hrs) on Bhadra 26 tomorrow and further information will be disseminated based on the analysis of the situation," the army said in a statement.

Armed soldiers guarded the streets of Nepal's capital Wednesday, ordering people to stay home in an attempt to restore order after tens of thousands of protesters stormed and set fire to government buildings and attacked politicians.

Soldiers with weapons guarding the main areas of Kathmandu appeared to give some sense of control returning to the city that was overtaken by violence and chaos in previous days. The army warned in an announcement late Tuesday that the security forces were committed to preserving law and order. The army is rarely mobilized and so far had stayed in its barracks, but police have failed to control the situation.

Soldiers told people in Kathmandu that the curfew was valid and checked vehicles and people. The army in a statement said 21 suspected looters had been arrested.

The protests had grown increasingly violent Tuesday as demonstrators set fire to government buildings and politicians’ homes and attacked some leaders.

(AP)

With violent protests triggering the fall of the government in Kathmandu, President Ram Chandra Poudel, who appeared to be in the safe protection of the Nepal Army, on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.

Nepali students in India say they have put their plans to travel home on hold and call up their families repeatedly, fearful of their safety amid the violent protests rattling the Himalayan nation.

The student-led "Gen Z" protests in Nepal that began against a government ban on social media expanded into a larger campaign reflecting growing public criticism of the KP Sharma Oli dispensation and the country's political elite over alleged corruption and apathy towards the common people.

Prime Minister Oli resigned in the face of massive protests for a second day, even as the ban on social media was lifted late on Monday night. The demonstrators stormed many government buildings and set the parliament as well as homes of several high-profile leaders ablaze, a day after 19 people died in violence.

Against this backdrop, Nepali students in India are living in anxiety.

A master's student at Delhi University's Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) said he had cancelled his plans to travel home, which is near Kathmandu, for the Dussehra festival.

"I was looking forward to being with my family, but they have advised me to stay back in Delhi until the situation there stabilises," he said.

Manoj Chaudhary from Nepal's Birgunj, pursuing MBA at IIT-Dhanbad, said the situation in his hometown was calmer compared to the capital. Still, he has suspended his plans to visit home.

"I was planning to visit Nepal soon, but now all my plans are on hold. My family is safe, but I am worried about Kathmandu, where buildings have been set on fire and students have lost their lives. That should never have happened. I only hope peace returns quickly," he said.

Another Delhi University student said her immediate parents and siblings live with her in Delhi, but her grandparents and extended relatives are in Nepal.

"I am deeply worried about them. Every day we hear news of protests turning violent, and it is painful not knowing how safe they are," she said.

A first-year DU student said the reports of deaths and destruction had shaken him. "I never thought students would be killed for raising their voice. It feels like the country is being torn apart." "I used to ask friends here to visit Nepal for its beauty, but now I feel sad about what is happening," he said, adding that he calls his family every few hours to check on their safety.

A PhD scholar at the South Asian University, who earlier studied at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said the unrest had left her disturbed even though her family lives in a rural area, which is relatively safe.

"When your country suffers, you feel helpless sitting far away. The violence was tragic, but I hope the protests open the way for something positive," she said.

Another DU student said he had deferred his trip home indefinitely.

"I was supposed to see my parents later this month, but I can't take that risk now. All I do is wait for messages from family and friends, hoping they are safe," he said.

India advised its citizens to defer travelling to Nepal until the condition stabilises.

(PTI)

Gen Z protesters, who have been enraged by the actions of Nepal's ex-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his government set fire to government buildings, offices of the political parties and even homes of some major political figures. Several ministers and politicians have been attacked by the protesters since past two days.

A few weeks ago, the Nepali government banned 26 social media platforms, including prominent ones like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, X, and YouTube after these platforms failed to register with authorities in a certain deadline.

(Read the full explainer)

Nepali students in India say they have put their plans to travel home on hold and call up their families repeatedly, fearful of their safety amid the violent protests rattling the Himalayan nation.

The student-led "Gen Z" protests in Nepal that began against a government ban on social media expanded into a larger campaign reflecting growing public criticism of the KP Sharma Oli dispensation and the country's political elite over alleged corruption and apathy towards the common people.

Prime Minister Oli resigned in the face of massive protests for a second day, even as the ban on social media was lifted late on Monday night. The demonstrators stormed many government buildings and set the parliament as well as homes of several high-profile leaders ablaze, a day after 19 people died in violence.

Against this backdrop, Nepali students in India are living in anxiety.

A master's student at Delhi University's Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) said he had cancelled his plans to travel home, which is near Kathmandu, for the Dussehra festival.

- PTI

The Nepal Army on Tuesday took control of the Tribhuvan International Airport here after the agitators tried to enter its premises in the evening.

Flight services at the airport were partially suspended in view of the protests. Air India, which operates six flights a day between New Delhi and Kathmandu, on Tuesday cancelled four flights. IndiGo and Nepal Airlines also cancelled their flights from Delhi to Kathmandu.

The army also took control of Singhdurbar, the government's main secretariat building, after the protesters burnt houses inside the complex. The army entered the complex and took control after evacuating the protesters.

The army also intervened after a group of agitators tried to vandalise the gate of the holy Pashupatinath Temple here. The Nepal Army earlier announced that it will take charge of security operations from 10 pm on Tuesday.

In a statement issued by the Directorate of Public Relations and Information, the army said that “some groups are taking undue advantage of the difficult situation and causing severe damage to ordinary citizens and public property”.

It warned that all security mechanisms, including the Nepal Army, will be mobilised to contain the violence if such activities continue.

- PTI

Air India and IndiGo are among the airlines that cancelled their flights connecting Kathmandu on Tuesday as the airport in Nepal's capital has been temporarily closed amid massive anti-government protests in the neighbouring nation.

Nepal Airlines also cancelled its flight from Delhi to Kathmandu on Tuesday. Air India and SpiceJet have also cancelled their flights to and from Kathmandu for Wednesday.

IndiGo said that in light of the current situation and the closure of Kathmandu airport, all flights to and from Kathmandu stand cancelled until 1200 hours on September 10.

A source said one of the flights of Air India returned to the national capital on Tuesday as smoke was noticed at the Kathmandu airport during final approach of the aircraft.

Another Kathmandu-bound Air India flight that took off from Delhi was diverted to Lucknow and later returned to the national capital, the source added.

- PTI

As unrest continues in Nepal, Uttar Pradesh's border districts saw empty markets, with residents grappling with cancelled travel plans and severed family contacts across the frontier and many expressing concern over the disruption of their daily lives.

In Bahraich's Rupaidiha town, which usually bustles with Nepali shoppers, markets have fallen silent. "Normally, our markets thrive because Nepali buyers come here for daily needs. But now, the markets are silent. Families on both sides are interlinked by marriages, so the unrest has left people here worried," said Dr Uma Shankar Vaishya, chairman of the local nagar panchayat.

Locals said the temporary social media ban in Nepal had even cut off communication with relatives across the border. The restoration of WhatsApp and Facebook brought some relief, but anxiety persists.

"People are very angry after the deaths during protests in Kathmandu. Schools are closed, markets shut, and demonstrations are intense in Nepalgunj too. The situation is tense, and Indian vehicles are not being allowed in," said Vikas Gupta, a trader from Nepalgunj, in a WhatsApp message.

In Maharajganj's Sonauli, bus operators and travel agents complained of severe losses as the border closure drove away tourists.

- PTI

Russia expressed concern over the developments in Nepal and urged a peaceful resolution of the crisis, advising its citizens to refrain from traveling to the Himalayan nation. "The Russian side urges a peaceful resolution of the internal political crisis within the framework of the national laws and hopes for a speedy normalization of the situation in the friendly country," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, as reported by PTI.

Moscow is closely monitoring the situation, which escalated from mass street protests into violent rioting resulting in casualties. Fortunately, there's no information indicating any Russian citizens among the victims, and the situation around the Russian Embassy in Kathmandu remains calm