As if struck by an earthquake, scores of buildings now lie in ruin, not only in Kathmandu, but also in the districts. Rarely has a spontaneous youth movement accomplished such a coordinated attack on strategic infrastructure in such a short time. Typically, a peaceful demonstration turned violent leads to random vandalism on whatever is around. This case, however, was different.
It all began in earnest on Monday, starting with a peaceful demonstration which escalated into violent clashes. The next day, massive attacks took the unrest to an unprecedented level. Tuesday evening Singha Durbar was still burning, smoke billowing over the capital; Bhat-Bhateni was in flames; and the Parliament and Supreme Court buildings had been torched.
The monument of central power in Nepal: Singha Durbar still burning Tuesday night. (Nepali News/Facebook).
The damages in the capital were massive, reading like the target list of a foreign army. The Presidential House was burned, and so were the houses of several major political leaders. In addition to the government, court buildings, and the capital’s major supermarket, the Kantipur headquarters and other media houses had been torched; Deuba had been beaten up; and Prime Minister Oli had fled.
The list of damages in the districts is long. In Rupandehi, the homes of mayors and leading politicians were burned down. In Chitwan, the house of Maoist leader, Prachanda, was set on fire, and so was that of his daughter, Ganga Dahal, in Lalitpur. In Hetauda, several government offices were set ablaze. In Karnali, the whole provincial building was torched, and in Kaski, Lalitpur, and Dhang, rioters stormed prisons, resulting in major jail breaks. In Biratnagar, the district court was burned to the ground, and so were the homes of ministers in Karnali and Koshi provinces.
In sum, in Kathmandu and across the country, the targeted infrastructure includes government and parliamentary buildings; court houses, police stations, and prisons; the homes of major party leaders and elected representatives; major business property; even some damage at Bhudha Airport; and media houses. To this can be added the UML party office and a series of massive looting.
Breaking down an “old order” and turning a “new page”: youth rejoicing at the sight of it. (Niranjan Shrestha/AP)
The death toll is at 31 at the time of writing, while the number of injured is estimated to over a thousand. Still more arson is reported, and tragic stories on the death of people trapped inside the homes set ablaze adds another stroke of black to the developing painting of Nepal. Horror from the streets of Kathmandu caught on video will be hard to forget for many.
As if Nepal has not already seen enough of dark times, a cursory glance at the circumstances can make it look as if great uncertainty is again staring the Nepalese in the eyes. Today, “Gen Z leaders” first walked out of talks with the Army Chief, arguing the “revolution” had been hijacked by the royalist “movement”, under the “field commander”, Durga Prasai.
Durga Prasai got out of jail on August 4 after paying the bail amount of 2,8 million rupees. He had a leading role in the failed pro-royalist uprising in March, which police shut down after similar vandalism and arson, but now he sat at the table next to the Army Chief. So, technically, as organisers of violent protests in the past, pro-royalists could have a part.
“Gen Z” groups spearheading the protests distanced themselves from the destruction, saying they had been “hijacked” by “opportunists”. BBC, September 10, 2025.
Wednesday, the Army Chief has taken over law and order, soldiers patrolling the streets. The Gen Z leaders have named former Chief Justice, Sushila Karki, as their first choice to negotiate and lead an interim government. They as well as Sushila Karki have noble demands, such as restricting the PM to two terms and ending all political influence in appointments for the CIAA and other state agencies.
As always, however, ordinary citizens in the capital and outside can only wait and hope for the best. Some welcome the destruction as a symbolic end to corruption and mischief by an “old elite” who should have been ousted long ago. Others are weary. Is this all about a “clean sweep” to finally end corruption and bring true democracy to Nepal. Or is some other agenda behind this tectonic event?
Extras – as more reports have come in:
- A total of 13,572 prisoners have escaped prisons across the country as a whole, according to a final count. They are currently being chased by army and police.
- The Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu, a seven-year and 8 billion Nrs. project, was burned to the ground on Tuesday.
- The Chandragiri Cable Car station, along with the CG Electronics Digital Park and Balambu, was also set ablaze.
- Several car show-rooms were burned down, too.
