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

Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah has supported the candidacy of former chief justice Sushila Karki for becoming the leader of the interim government in Nepal. “To lead this interim/election government, I fully support the candidacy of former chief justice Sushila Karki,” Shah said in a post on X.

Balen further urged the people of the country to not rush, saying that elections would be held for those who want to take leadership. “The country is moving toward an interim government, which will lead the nation to fresh elections. The task of this interim government is to hold elections and give the country a new mandate,” Shah said.

Indigo has announced that it will operate four daily flights to and from Kathmandu starting Thursday (September 11), along with two special relief flights.

“In addition, subject to regulatory approvals, two special relief flights will operate the same day, dedicated to bringing our customers home safely,” Indigo said in a post on X. The airline said these flights would also be offered at special fares for “ease of travel”.

The Ahmedabad district administration issued a helpline number for its residents stranded in Nepal, amid the unrest in the country following violent protests, ANI reported. The administration advised its citizens to contact the helpline number 079-27560511 for assistance.

“If any citizens of Ahmedabad district are currently on a trip to Nepal, the district administration has requested their relatives to immediately inform the helpline number,” a press release by the Resident Additional Collector said.

“In addition, if any Indian expatriate citizens residing/stuck in Nepal-Kathmandu are in touch, they are advised to contact the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu on the following helpline numbers. District Disaster Management Center - Ahmedabad:- 079 - 27560511, State Disaster Management Center - Gandhinagar :- 079 - 23251900/902/914. Indian Embassy, Kathmandu - Nepal :- 977 - 980 860 2881, 977 - 981 032 6134,” it said, according to ANI.

More than 15,000 inmates have escaped from 25 prisons across Nepal, The Kathmandu Post reported. The report said that this was one of the largest jailbreaks in the country, with five inmates being killed in Banke Juvenile Detention Centre during prison riots. Police opened fire during the chaos in Banke, with officials later saying that the shooting started after protesters attempted to seize weapons from security personnel guarding the facility.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has arranged additional flights on Wednesday and over the next few days in coordination with Air India and Indigo to bring back Indians stranded in Nepal.

“Airlines have been advised to keep their fares within reasonable levels. We remain committed to supporting our passengers while ensuring their safe travel during this time,” union minister for civil aviation said in a post on X.

Nepal's health ministry on Wednesday said that 30 people had lost their lives and over 1000 had sustained injuries in the protests, The Kathmandu Post reported. The protests, which broke out on Monday over the ban on social media platforms, took a violent turn, leading to the resignation of Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli.

Data released by the health ministry stated that 713 injured had been discharged from hospitals, 253 had been newly admitted, and 55 patients had been referred to other facilities.

The protestors, in a four hour virtual meeting on Wednesday, chose former chief justice Sushila Karki to become the interim leader of Nepal. Karki is the first female chief justice of Nepal, and has delivered several significant rulings during her tenure.

Amid the unrest in Nepal, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has suspended bus services from Delhi to Kathmandu, an official told PTI.

The Rajasthan government set up a special cell in the Rajasthan Police Headquarters, issuing helpline numbers to assist Indians stranded in Nepal amid the unrest in the neighbouring country. The helpline numbers were issued under directions given by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.

According to a press release, Indians in Nepal can contact the special cell in the office of Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order.

The 24x7 helpline numbers are – 0141-2740832 and 0141-2741807 and WhatsApp number 9784942702.

Amid the political instability in neighbouring Nepal, the Uttarakhand police is on high alert. The police and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) conducted joint patrolling and surveillance in border areas of Pithoragarh, ANI quoted the Uttarakhand Police Headquarters as saying.

Several Indian tourists are stranded in Kathmandu amid the unrest in Nepal after protests broke out over the ban on social media platforms, which was lifted eventually. One of the stranded tourists, while describing the situation in Nepal, said there was “absolute anarchy everywhere”.

“Today we had a flight, but due to unrest in Kathmandu, all airline companies have cancelled their services. I am now held up in this hotel,” Gauri K, who had gone on a Kailash-Mansarovar expedition with her sister, told PTI over the phone. Gauri said that smoke could be seen from buildings torched by protestors, adding that gunshots were also heard in between.

Five juvenile inmates died in a clash with security personnel at the Naubasta Correctional Home in Naubasta Regional Jail located in Baijnath Rural Municipality-3 of Banke, according to The Rising Nepal newspaper.

During the incident, 149 of the 585 inmates in the prison and 76 of the 176 detainees from the juvenile home escaped.

The Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu was left charred after being set on fire by protestors during the protests on Tuesday, drone visuals of the site released by ANI show.

The Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu has opened, after it was shut on Tuesday following violent protests, Reuters quoted an airport spokesperson as saying.

The Rajasthan police has set up a special cell to assist the residents of the state and their families stranded in Nepal, PTI quoted officials as saying. According to a release, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has been in contact with the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu to get updates, directing the police to take immediate steps for assistance.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said tourists from the state who are stranded in Nepal will be brought back in a couple of days. “I will appeal to the tourists stranded in Nepal not to panic. We will bring them back in a couple of days,” PTI quoted Mamata as saying.

Most of the buildings set on fire by the protestors have been completely burnt, the firefighters told The Kathmandu Post. The blaze at the Hilton Hotel, Kathmandu, which started on Tuesday afternoon, remains out of control. “As it is a high-rise building, we have not been able to reach the top floors,” Dhurba Kumar Bhujel, an official at the Kathmandu Fire Brigade, said.

Most of the buildings–the Supreme Court, the Parliament Building, the Singha Durbar, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, and supermarkets are still burning, The Kathmandu Post quoted Bhujel as saying.

The Nepal Army on Wednesday stepped up its crackdown on lootings, arresting four persons in Maharajgunj. Some suspicious individuals also fled on seeing security forces, leaving ₹232,500 and $2,500, and a looted weapon behind them, The Kathmandu Post reported.

Further, the Army took into custody 26 inmates of the district prison in Dadeldhura who had escaped, and prevented others attempting to escape from the Central Prison in Dillibazar, Kathmandu.

After taking charge of security, the Nepal Army, while patrolling the streets, also issued orders via loudspeakers, imposing a curfew as a political vacuum takes over the country, AFP reported.

Nepal protests live updates: Amid ongoing protests in Nepal, an Air India spokesperson stated, “Air India flights to and from Kathmandu on 10 September have been cancelled as the airport remains closed. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates. At Air India, passenger and crew safety is our top priority.”

Nepal protests live updates: Amid the unrest in Nepal, Andhra Pradesh’s Real Time Governance (RTG) Minister Nara Lokesh has assumed charge of coordinating rescue efforts for Telugu citizens stranded in different parts of the neighbouring country.

On Wednesday, Lokesh visited the RTG Centre at the State Secretariat and reviewed the situation with senior officials. AP Bhavan authorities briefed him, confirming that around 215 Telugu nationals remain stranded.

Taking a serious view, Lokesh directed officials to act swiftly to secure their safe return. He instructed that immediate relief be provided, stranded citizens moved to safer areas, and updates given regularly.

"Updates on their safety and well-being must be collected every two hours," the minister told officials during the meeting.

Nepal protests live updates: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has instructed state officials to ensure the safe return of 30 Kannadigas stranded at Kathmandu airport in Nepal amid the ongoing unrest.

The widespread anti-corruption protests, which forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign, have left several Indian nationals stuck in the neighbouring country.

Following this, the Chief Minister asked Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to take up the matter with the relevant authorities and initiate the necessary steps for their return.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), all the stranded Kannadigas in Nepal are reported to be safe.

A day after Gen Z protesters set fire to Nepal's federal Parliament building in Kathmandu amid their anti-government protests, a spokesperson for the lower house, Ekram Giri, told Reuters, "I have been informed by the (parliament) security chief that the fire has destroyed the entire infrastructure."

Security forces were seen guarding the Parliament, patrolling deserted streets on Wednesday as curfew orders were in place across the capital.

Nepal protests live updates: The Nepalese Army has reportedly arrested 27 persons involved in looting, arson, and other violent acts during the ongoing Gen Z-led protests across Nepal.

The arrests were made between 10 pm on Tuesday and 10 am on Wednesday, The Himalayan Times reported. The development came as the Army took charge of the security operations in the country on Tuesday night.

Authorities also seized large amounts of cash, weapons, and firearms, along with ammunition, among other things.