Kathmandu: Nepal plunged into further turmoil on Monday as violent Gen-Z-led protests entered their second day, leaving behind widespread destruction and tragic loss of life. Among the latest casualties was Rabi Laxmi Chitrakar, wife of former Nepal Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, who succumbed to critical burn injuries after their residence in Dallu was set on fire by mobs.
Khanal’s wife succumbs to injuries
According to reports by Nepali outlet Khabar Hub, Chitrakar was rushed to Kirtipur Burn Hospital in critical condition but could not survive. The incident has sent shockwaves through the political circles of Nepal, as it highlights the intensity of violence sweeping across the capital and beyond.
Death toll rises amid unrest
The protests, triggered by the government’s controversial social media ban, have spiralled despite the ban being lifted. Demonstrators are now demanding the ouster of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and dissolution of the government. In just two days of unrest, at least 22 people have been killed and over 300 injured, authorities confirmed.
Political and government buildings targeted
In one of the most audacious attacks in recent memory, mobs set fire to Singh Durbar, Nepal’s central administrative complex, and Sheetal Niwas, the presidential residence. Residences of top leaders, including President Ram Chandra Paudel, Prime Minister Oli, and former premiers Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Jhalanath Khanal, were also attacked.
At Deuba’s residence, both he and his wife, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, were reportedly assaulted. Offices of several political parties have also been vandalised.
Oli resigns amid escalating crisis
As the violence worsened, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli tendered his resignation late Monday, his aide Prakash Silwal confirmed. In his resignation letter, Oli stated that he was stepping down “to facilitate a solution to the problem and to help resolve it politically.”
Army urged Oli to quit
According to army sources, Oli had earlier sought assistance from Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel to control the situation and ensure his safe exit from the Prime Minister’s residence. However, the Army Chief reportedly advised him to resign, stressing that the military could stabilise the situation only if Oli relinquished power.
A country on the brink
The developments mark one of Nepal’s most severe political crises in recent decades. With government institutions, leadership homes, and even cultural landmarks under attack, the unrest poses a serious threat to the country’s fragile democratic stability. Analysts warn that unless a broad-based political solution is quickly found, the crisis may deepen, risking further violence and instability in the Himalayan nation.