Death Toll Rises to 31 Amid Ongoing Gen Z Protests in Nepal

Protests in Kathmandu Valley Lead to Rising Casualties

The ongoing protests led by Gen Z in the Kathmandu Valley have resulted in a tragic increase in the death toll, now reported at 31, according to officials from the Department of Forensic Medicine at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. As of Wednesday, 25 of the deceased have been preliminarily identified.

Six individuals, comprising five men and one woman, remain unidentified. Dr. Gopal Kumar Chaudhary, the head of the department, stated, “We have conducted postmortems in accordance with international protocols. We are required to preserve the bodies and cannot disclose further details about the deceased.”

Most identifications were facilitated through documents found at protest sites or by family members recognizing their loved ones. Additionally, over 1,000 individuals sustained injuries during the protests across the region. In a related incident, the wife of former Nepalese Prime Minister Khanal is reported to be in critical condition following an arson attack amid the violent demonstrations, as reported.

Contrary to earlier reports of her death, Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar, the spouse of former PM and senior CPN (Unified Socialist) leader Jhala Nath Khanal, is currently hospitalized with severe burns after her residence was set ablaze during the protests while she was inside.

Negotiations are underway involving the Nepalese Army, President Ram Chandra Paudel, and representatives from the Gen Z movement to establish an interim government amid the ongoing political turmoil. Sources indicate that the protest leaders have unanimously nominated former Chief Justice Sushila Karki for the interim Prime Minister role.

Discussions are set to commence between Karki’s team and the Army leadership, including Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel, and may extend to the President’s Office depending on the evolving situation. Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah, known as ‘Balen,’ has also expressed his support for Karki, reinforcing her position as the chosen candidate of the Gen Z movement.

The protests erupted on September 8, 2025, in Kathmandu and other significant cities like Pokhara, Butwal, and Birgunj, following the government’s decision to ban major social media platforms, citing concerns over tax revenue and cybersecurity.

A curfew has been enforced in several cities, including Kathmandu, to manage the unrest, which is expected to remain in effect until Friday morning, as stated by the Nepalese Army. Protesters are calling for an end to “institutionalized corruption and favoritism” in governance, demanding greater accountability and transparency from the government. Public discontent has intensified following the emergence of the “Nepo Babies” trend on social media, which has highlighted the extravagant lifestyles of politicians’ children, further emphasizing the economic divide between them and the general populace.