Chaos in Kathmandu: Parliament Breached, Buildings Torched
In a dramatic escalation of Nepal’s ongoing unrest, Gen Z protesters broke into Parliament and set fire to one of its buildings just minutes before Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned.
Videos from Kathmandu showed thousands of demonstrators storming the Parliament complex, waving flags and chanting anti-government slogans, as thick plumes of black smoke filled the skies.
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Even as flames engulfed the premises, protesters continued marching toward Parliament, with chants of “KP Chor, Desh Chhod” (KP thief, leave the country) echoing across the capital.
Oli’s Residence and Leaders’ Homes Targeted
The protesters also torched Oli’s residence in Balkot, Bhaktapur, along with homes of several senior leaders.
Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s house in Naikap was set ablaze just a day after his resignation, which came in the wake of police violence against demonstrators.
The Singha Durbar administrative complex was breached through its western gate, which was also set on fire by the agitating crowds.
Also Read: Nepal Plunges Into Chaos: 19 Dead in Protests, PM Oli Resigns, India Issues Urgent Travel Advisory
Death Toll Rises, Flights Cancelled at Kathmandu Airport
According to officials, the protests have so far left 19 people dead and over 300 injured.
With mobs vandalising both private residences and government offices, all flights at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) were cancelled for the day. Authorities clarified, however, that the airport itself has not been shut down.
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What Triggered Nepal’s Gen Z Protests?
The unrest was sparked by the government’s ban on 26 social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X (Twitter).
Although the Oli government revoked the ban late Monday after violent clashes, the protests intensified over the lives lost during police crackdowns.
Curfews have been imposed in key areas of Kathmandu, while the central office of the Nepali Congress in Sanepa was vandalised on Tuesday afternoon.
India-Nepal Border on High Alert
As violence escalated, the India-Nepal border at Panitanki in West Bengal’s Darjeeling was placed on high alert.
Darjeeling SP Praveen Parkash told ANI that police patrolling had been intensified:
“We are in alert mode and monitoring the situation with the help of security agencies and Nepal police. A post has been set up with additional forces. There is no report of any Indian being stranded.”