The political turmoil in Nepal has escalated into a humanitarian crisis, with a severe fuel shortage paralyzing the country. The disruption comes as the India-Nepal border was sealed in the wake of violent, Gen Z-led protests that have left at least 51 people dead and forced the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
The closure of the border left hundreds of oil tankers stranded, causing a ripple effect of fuel shortages across Nepal. In Dhangadhi, residents were seen waiting for hours at the only operational government-run petrol pump, as private stations remain closed. The disruption has been so severe that even a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus on the Delhi-Kathmandu route has been stranded in Nepal, with Indian and Nepali embassies coordinating to ensure the safety of its passengers. On Thursday, however, the border at Panitanki was partially opened, allowing 19 petroleum tankers and other essential goods trucks to cross into Nepal.
Amid the chaos, the focus has shifted to forming a new government. After Oli’s resignation, several names were floated for the post of interim prime minister, including Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, former electricity board chief Kulman Ghising, and former Chief Justice Sushila Karki.
In a crucial development, a prominent face of the protests, Sudan Gurung, president of the “We Nepali” group, publicly declared his faction’s support for Karki. “We are ready to accept the leadership of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki,” Gurung stated, while also reiterating the movement’s core demand: the dissolution of Parliament to pave the way for an interim cabinet that will be monitored by the “Gen Z generation.” Karki, known for her firm anti-corruption stance, has been accepted by the youth movement as a potential leader for an interim government.
While the president has appealed for peace and eased some curfew restrictions to allow movement during certain hours, a clear path forward remains elusive. The Gen Z leaders, who have been meeting with both the president and the army, are under pressure to unite behind a single candidate to end the political vacuum and restore stability to the nation.