Kathmandu, Nepal – An uneasy calm returned to Nepal on Friday after days of violent, youth-led anti-corruption protests that have left 51 people dead and hundreds injured, according to officials. Among the deceased are an Indian woman from Ghaziabad and three Nepalese police personnel, authorities confirmed.
The protests, which erupted in response to a controversial social media ban, quickly escalated into a nationwide uprising against corruption. The movement ultimately led to the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, plunging the country into political uncertainty. In a dramatic show of public anger, the homes of nearly all government ministers were ransacked and set ablaze, while Nepal’s Parliament building was also torched by protesters.
Search for Interim Leadership Amid Political Vacuum As Nepal navigates this crisis, all eyes are now on a crucial meeting scheduled for today to decide the formation of an interim government. Sources say that former Chief Justice Sushila Karki is the leading candidate for interim Prime Minister.
However, her appointment has been delayed due to internal divisions within the protest movement’s leadership. A rival faction has put forward the name of Kulman Ghising, the former head of the Nepal Electricity Authority, who is widely respected for ending the country’s chronic power outages.
What’s Next Today’s high-level talks between the Nepal Army and representatives of the Gen Z protest movement are expected to focus on both the formation of a transitional government and the dissolution of Parliament. The outcome could determine the future course of stability in the Himalayan nation.
NEPAL GEN Z PROTEST: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- discussions to appoint former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the head of Nepal’s interim government have reached an advanced stage. Karki participated in a marathon meeting with the Nepal Army and representatives of the Gen Z-led protest movement, which continued late into the night. Her potential appointment has also received significant backing from Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, further strengthening her candidacy.
- On Thursday, efforts to finalize Nepal’s interim prime minister hit a roadblock after the delegation failed to reach a consensus. A faction within the group put forward the name of 54-year-old Kulman Ghising, widely acclaimed for resolving Nepal’s long-standing electricity crisis, leading to divisions in the talks.
- All attention now turns to the second round of talks scheduled for today between the Nepal Army and the Gen Z delegation, where discussions will center on the formation of an interim government and the possible dissolution of Parliament.
- Signs of normalcy began to emerge across major cities in Nepal, as shops reopened and community groups joined efforts to clear debris. Meanwhile, the Army maintained a heavy presence in the capital, conducting vehicle checks at all entry points.
- Meanwhile, India has launched evacuation efforts to bring back its stranded citizens from Nepal. Over 140 people from Andhra Pradesh were safely airlifted from Kathmandu on special flights. Additionally, several Indians made their way home via land routes through Sonauli in Uttar Pradesh and Panitanki in Darjeeling.
- A Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus, which operates between the national capital and Kathmandu, has been stranded in Nepal since Wednesday. Additionally, eight Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims from Ayodhya remain stuck at Hilsa, near the Nepal-China border.
- An Indian volleyball team stranded in Nepal was rescued by the Indian Embassy and taken to a safe location. The rescue followed a viral video appeal made by team member Upasana Gill.
- Meanwhile, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has apprehended 67 inmates attempting to cross into India through multiple border checkpoints after escaping from prisons in Nepal
- Amid the ongoing unrest, Rajesh Gola, a woman from Ghaziabad, tragically died in Kathmandu when protesters set fire to the Hyatt Hotel where she was staying with her husband.
- The ongoing turmoil in the Himalayan nation, heavily dependent on tourism, has dealt a severe blow to Nepal’s hotel industry, which has seen business decline by 50%. Prices of essential commodities such as rice, lentils, and cooking oil have also surged amid supply disruptions.
- No Lockdown in India Amid LPG Concerns: Hardeep Singh Puri Dismisses Rumours, Assures Energy Security
- Courts Rein in Arbitrary Bank Account Freezes: Major Relief for Citizens and Businesses
- Bombay High Court Issues Notice to Centre Over LPG Cylinder Supply Shortage
- Nepal Election Results 2026 LIVE updates: How many seats Balen Shah’s RSP needs for him to become Nepal’s PM
- Major Political Shift in Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar Expresses Desire to Move to Rajya Sabha