Nepal began returning to calm on Wednesday, two days after violent Gen Z-led demonstrations left at least 30 people dead and more than 1,000 injured. In Kathmandu, the capital, streets were largely empty as security forces patrolled neighbourhoods and urged residents to remain indoors.
Flights at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, which had been suspended for a full day, resumed operations on Wednesday evening. The unrest had erupted on Monday, September 8, and continued through Tuesday, with crowds targeting political leaders, government offices and even private homes of senior politicians. Several buildings were set ablaze during the violence.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned in the wake of the turmoil, creating a political vacuum. The finance minister was also assaulted by a mob, an incident widely shared online through viral videos.
The protests were fuelled in part by a government decision on September 4 to block access to 26 social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and X. Authorities had argued that the companies failed to meet requirements to register locally, appoint grievance officers and remove flagged content. The ban, however, triggered public anger, particularly among the younger generation.
Observers note that the movement is not solely about losing access to social platforms. According to the Kathmandu Post, it reflects deeper frustrations among Nepal’s Gen Z population over years of corruption, nepotism and unfulfilled political promises.
As stability gradually returns, protest leaders have begun consultations on who should guide an interim administration. Among those being considered are Sushila Karki, the only woman to have served as chief justice of Nepal’s Supreme Court, Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah and Ghising, according to reports citing senior officials.