Nepalese authorities have decided to prolong curfew hours and prohibitory measures across several districts, even though normalcy has largely returned following the violent Gen Z protests earlier this week.

 

According to the latest announcement, restrictions on movement will remain in force between 11 am and 5 pm (local time) on Friday, September 12. The night curfew will begin at 7 pm on the same day and end at 6 am on Saturday, September 13.

 

Life in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, came to a standstill on Wednesday night after two days of widespread demonstrations left 30 people dead and around 1,000 others injured, as reported by PTI. Streets remained deserted as security forces patrolled neighborhoods, instructing residents to stay indoors.

 

The District Security Committees of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur reviewed the current situation and concluded that it was necessary to continue restrictions for public safety. The Nepal Army, in its statement, stressed that the measures were essential to protect lives and property.

 

Political Uncertainty Amid Protests

 

The wave of protests, which started on September 8, has left Nepal facing political uncertainty. Demonstrators, mostly from the younger generation, initially took to the streets after the government imposed a ban on social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and X, citing lack of compliance with government regulations.

 

Although the ban was lifted on Tuesday, anger over corruption and long-standing frustrations with the authorities kept the protests alive until Wednesday morning.

 

Clashes and Prison Incident

 

The Ministry of Health confirmed that a total of 1,033 people were injured during the protests. Of these, 713 have already been discharged from hospitals, 55 were referred to other facilities for specialized treatment, and 253 are still under care.