Nepal is engulfed in chaos as a wave of violent protests sweeps the nation, leading to dramatic scenes of government ministers and their families being rescued by military helicopters. A widely circulated video on social media shows a rescue basket carrying ministers over a Kathmandu hotel, with thick smoke billowing in the background as angry mobs screamed at the aircraft.
The unrest, largely fueled by a “Gen Z” movement, intensified after the government briefly banned social media platforms, a move that ignited widespread public anger already simmering over allegations of corruption. On Tuesday, tens of thousands of demonstrators stormed the capital, setting the Parliament building ablaze and vandalizing the homes of political leaders. Other videos showed horrifying scenes of violence, including one where Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel was chased and kicked by protesters, and another where Foreign Affairs Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and her husband, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, were attacked at their residence.
Amidst the escalating violence, Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli announced his resignation. While the president has accepted it, he remains in a caretaker capacity as the search for a new leader begins. The political vacuum and ongoing chaos have prompted President Ram Chandra Poudel to appeal for peace and dialogue.
As the nation seeks a path forward, representatives of the “Gen Z” movement have proposed former chief justice Sushila Karki as a top choice for an interim prime minister. However, her nomination has sparked debate, with other names like Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah and former electricity board CEO Kulman Ghising also being considered. While the parliament remains standing, the protests have exposed a deep-seated frustration with the country’s political elite and have plunged Nepal into its worst political crisis in years.