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

Nepali army soldiers patrol at the road near the Singha Durbar office complex that houses the Prime Minister's office and other ministries.

Nepal protests highlights: The updates to this live blog have ended. Follow the fresh updates here. Nepal Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel held a meeting with the representatives of the Gen Z protestors and held “consultations with related stakeholders,” army spokesperson Rajaram Basnet said.

30 people have lost their lives, and over 1000 have sustained injuries since protests broke out in the country, Nepal's health ministry said Wednesday, according to The Kathmandu Post. The ministry added that emergency services were being mobilised to handle the influx of patients, and urged hospitals to remain on high alert.

The Army took charge of the security operations in Nepal on Tuesday. Curfew orders remained in force for the day and will continue on Thursday as well, a move the Army said it took due to the prevailing situation.

Meanwhile, the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu resumed flight operations from 6 pm on Wednesday, the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. The airport had been shut and flights suspended after violent protests on Tuesday.

“Passengers traveling to the airport for flights are requested to contact their respective airline companies for flight information and to bring official airline tickets and identification documents with them when traveling,” the aviation authority's statement said.

The Army intensified its crackdown on lootings and jail breaks, The Kathmandu Post reported. Four persons involved in lootings were detained in Maharajgunj, while suspicious individuals left some cash and a looted weapon, fleeing after being seen by security forces.

Visuals from Kathmandu showed Army personnel patrolling the capital as locals seemed to move about their day. However, the aftermath of Tuesday's violence left a mark on the city, with plumes of smoke still billowing from a Nepali media channel's headquarters. The Parliament, Supreme Court and other buildings of the regime were severely damaged in the Gen Z protesters' agitation.

Earlier, Nepal Army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel called for a dialogue with the protesters. He said in a statement, “We appeal to the protesting group to halt protest programmes and come forward for dialogue for a peaceful way out for the nation. We need to normalise the present difficult situation and protect our historical and national heritage and public as well as private property, and to ensure safety to the general public and diplomatic missions.”

The intensified protests saw demonstrators torching the residences of the former PM, former home minister, and several other top leaders of the country.

What is happening in Nepal and why?

The protests in Nepal were triggered by the government's decision to ban 26 social media sites, including WhatsApp, Instagram and YouTube, a move that was later revoked.

The protests mounted the pressure on the government and eventually forced KP Sharma Oli to resign from the PM's office.

Earlier, Oli had alleged that "infiltration by various vested interest groups" was the cause of Monday's violence. He had also said the government would set up a panel to probe the protests and offer financial relief to victims and free treatment to those injured.

Nepal protests | Other key updates

• The Nepal Army on Wednesday appealed to the public for their cooperation in maintaining peace and security in the country, and expressed condolences over the lives lost in the protests. It said that curfew orders will remain in place until further instructions.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the violence in Nepal "heart-wrenching and called for peace, emphasising the importance of Nepal's peace, stability and prosperity for India.
• PM Modi also chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to discuss the ongoing developments in Nepal.
• Russia expressed concern over the developments in Nepal, urging a peaceful resolution of the crisis. It also advised its citizens to refrain from travelling to the Himalayan country, adding that it was closely monitoring the situation.
• Israel's foreign ministry also issued an advisory for its citizens, warning them against travelling to Nepal after widespread protests and violence in the country. Israeli citizens in the country have been asked to remain indoors and avoid crowds.