Nepal protests highlights: Army chief meets Gen Z representatives in bid to restore peace

Plumes of smoke continued to rise from Nepali media outlet Kantipur TV's headquarters in Kathmandu, which was set on fire by protesters on Tuesday amid their anti-government agitation.

The aftermath of the fire set on the Parliament building by protesters on Tuesday was clearly visible as the infrastructure was in near shambles on Wednesday morning.

Visuals showed security forces outside the premises as the Army took control of security operations on Tuesday night.

Nepal protests live updates:The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered the social media unit of the police headquarters to constantly monitor any sensitive information or posts related to Nepal, instructing them to take immediate action if required.

The Uttar Pradesh government has issued helpline numbers to assist Indian citizens trapped in Nepal, while a special control room has also been set up in the Law and Order branch under the Additional Director General of Police Law and Order at police headquarters at Lucknow.

The helpline numbers are:

1- 0522-2390257

2- 0522-2724010

3- 9454401674

WhatsApp- 9454401674

On the basis of instructions from Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath amid the tensions in Nepal, UP DGP Rajeev Krishna has ordered the police to remain on high alert round the clock, 24 hours a day, in all the border districts of the state adjoining Nepal.

In a statement, the UP government said, "To further strengthen the security system in the border districts of Uttar Pradesh, additional police force has been deployed and patrolling and surveillance have been strengthened, so that any emergency can be dealt with immediately."

Nepal nationals, who have medical or any other emergency, are being allowed to enter India after a thorough check at the India-Nepal border in Sonauli in UP's Maharajganj.

Inspector Incharge SSB Arun Pandey, at India-Nepal border in Sonauli in UP's Maharajganj, said that there was massive violence in Bhairawa and there was arson in Bhansar amid the unrest in Nepal.

Speaking to news agency ANI, he said, "Situation in Nepal was tense for the last 2-3 days. But there was massive violence in Bhairawa. There was arson in Bhansar...All this happened last evening, but since then, there has been no further incident. We are in touch with the Nepal Police. There have been no further incidents after the night...All Indian nationals stranded on that side who are coming to the border, are being facilitated. Nepali nationals, who have medical emergency and so, are being allowed to enter."

Subhash, a protester in Nepal, told news agency ANI that Gen-Z is protesting because it wants regulation and freedom from corruption, adding that it wants change.

"We wanted to beat him (former PM K.P. Sharma Oli) up, but he has left for somewhere. He has left the country and run away. We caught all the politicians. We burned the house of Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Arzu Deuba. The PM of our country, K.P. Sharma Oli, ran away...We demand a good leader," he said.

Subhash further said, "We want a conversation with the Rashtrapati Bhavan...We will get to know today if that will happen...The violent protests which we had seen for the past two days will not happen now but we want a new rule and regulation in the country."

Kohila, an Indian national who returned from Nepal after crossing the border in Darjeeling's Panitanki in West Bengal, said that the situation in the neighbouring country is "out of control".

"We are from Assam and are returning from Nepal. It feels good. Jaan wapas aa gaya," he told news agency ANI.

Amid the ongoing unrest in the neighbouring country, Indian nationals from the Nepal side crossed the India-Nepal border in Panitanki in West Bengal's Darjeeling and returned to India.

Security arrangements at Panitanki were tightened on Tuesday as violent protests escalated in Nepal, with protesters setting fire to leaders' homes and the Nepalese Parliament in Kathmandu.

One from among the group of 60 senior citizens, who were going to travel to Nepal to visit the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, said they returned to the border after deboarding from their cancelled flight.

"We were going to Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal, from Bhopal (MP). We had boarded the flight but it was cancelled. So, we deboarded. The situation is tense there. We are not being allowed to cross. The airport is closed. So, we have come back...We were a group of 60 people - all senior citizens...We are returning from the airport," she told news agency ANI.

Indian nationals who were travelling to Nepal cancelled their plans amid the ongoing tensions in the country and moved to return to their home states. Visuals from the India-Nepal border in Sonauli in UP's Maharajganj showed travellers moving around with their luggage, waiting to return to their homes.

Visuals from Kathmandu on Wednesday morning showed calm streets, closed shops and people moving around as part of their usual routine. Curfew in the capital remains in effect until further orders.

Yashwant Shah, grandson of former Nepal PM Dr KI Singh, said, "I come from an active political family, but they all have a clean image... My grandfather was an immensely respected figure... The current lot of politicians, in the last 10-15 years, have been corrupt. Balendra Shah, the mayor of Kathmandu, has a very clean image... After being requested to lead time and again, Balendra Shah turned down all requests."

"After the resignation of PM KP Sharma Oli and the entire cabinet, the Nepal Army Chief and Balendra Shah are having a meeting, and I hope that an interim government will be formed in the coming 2-4 days. General elections should be called in 2026 with the aim of forming a stable government," he told ANI.

Yashwant Shah, grandson of former Nepal prime minister Dr KI Singh, told news agency ANI, "A peaceful protest was organised in the capital city on 8 September. No political parties were involved in it. It was called by a student body called 'Students For Justice'. Around 12000 people gathered for this protest. To deter the protest and protestors, force was used by the police... Police started shooting the protestors... The country has been reeling under corruption for a long time. Despite good tourism and businesses, there is immense poverty and unemployment."

Nepal protests live updates: Flight operations between India and Nepal were suspended on Tuesday after Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) was forced to close due to escalating violence, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and leading to the cancellation of multiple services, including at least six from Delhi.

The shutdown has affected more than 250 flights the airport typically manages each day, involving carriers such as Air India, IndiGo, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Singapore Airlines and Batik Air.

Air India and SpiceJet run six daily services from Delhi to Kathmandu, while IndiGo operates three from Delhi and one from Mumbai.

The Indian government has issued an advisory for its citizens in Nepal amid the ongoing unrest in the country.

"In view of the developing situation in Nepal, Indian citizens are advised to defer travel there until the situation has stabilised. Indian citizens presently in Nepal are advised to shelter in their current places of residence, avoid going out onto the streets and exercise all due caution. They are also advised to follow safety advisories from Nepal authorities as well as the Embassy of India in Kathmandu," it said.

In case of any assistance, two helpline numbers have also been provided to the citizens: - +977-9808602881 and +977-9810326134

Former Indian diplomat Sukh Deo Mani on Tuesday said that Nepal's situation is "one of anarchy" as the country reeled under the violent protests against the government.

Muni took note of KP Sharma Oli's resignation, saying that the government has collapsed and suggesting that Oli has left the country.

Actor Prajakta Koli postponed her plans of visiting Nepal due to the ongoing protests in the country. She extended support to the families in Nepal.

Koli penned an emotional note on Instagram and said, "What happened in Nepal yesterday is truly heartbreaking. Any form of celebration at such a time feels inappropriate. My heart goes out to the families of those who have suffered. I was really looking forward to being there and meeting everyone, but now isn't the right time. Hopefully, I'll get to see you all very soon."

Israel's foreign ministry on Tuesday issued an advisory for its citizens, warning them against travelling to Nepal after widespread protests and violence in the country.

Israeli citizens in Nepal have been urged to stay indoors, avoid crowds and demonstrations, and refrain from travelling to Kathmandu until the situation stabilizes, news agency ANI reported.

Russia expressed concern over the developments in Nepal and called for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, advising its citizens to refrain from travelling to the Himalayan country.

“The Russian side urges a peaceful resolution of the internal political crisis within the framework of the national laws and hopes for a speedy normalisation of the situation in the friendly country,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Moscow is “closely monitoring the situation which transformed from mass street protests into mass rioting with casualties”, it said.

Uttar Pradesh's border districts saw deserted markets as the unrest in Nepal continued to escalate.

Dr Uma Shankar Vaishya, chairman of the local nagar panchayat in Bahraich's Rupaidiha town, said, Normally, our markets thrive because Nepali buyers come here for daily needs. But now, the markets are silent. Families on both sides are interlinked by marriages, so the unrest has left people here worried."

Meanwhile, locals expressed worry about trade matters and the safety of their kin.

To discuss the ongoing developments in Nepal, where violent protests toppled the government led by KP Sharma Oli, neighbouring India's PM Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.

The meeting was also attended by other CCS members, including defence minister Rajnath Singh, home minister Amit Shah, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted to the protests in neighbouring Nepal on Tuesday and termed the violence in the country as 'heart-wrenching'.

“On my return from Himachal Pradesh and Punjab today, a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security discussed the developments in Nepal. The violence in Nepal is heart-rending. I am anguished that many young people have lost their lives,” Modi wrote on X.

“The stability, peace and prosperity of Nepal are of utmost importance to us. I humbly appeal to all my brothers and sisters in Nepal to support peace,” he added.

Several Indian airlines, including Air India and IndiGo, have cancelled their flights to Kathmandu as the Nepalese airport was temporarily closed amid the escalating tensions across the country.

Air India, which operates six flights a day between Delhi and Kathmandu, cancelled all its flights on the route. IndiGo also suspended its operations in the country, while SpiceJet followed suit.

Nepal Airlines also cancelled its flights from Delhi to Kathmandu on Tuesday.