Nepal unrest death toll hits 34, over 300 still in hospitals Causes and outcomes in day-by-bay timeline

On September 11, Nepal’s Ministry of Health stated that the death toll from clashes during protests against government plans to block social media and against corruption has reached 34.

The ministry said 1,338 people were undergoing treatment in hospitals, 949 of whom have already been discharged, Caliber.Az writes, citing Reuters.

Last week, the Nepalese government blocked 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube, after the companies refused to register in the country. The decision sparked mass protests and clashes between demonstrators and police.

On September 4, Nepal’s government, led by Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) and the Nepali Congress, blocked 26 social media platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, and TikTok—for failing to register with the Ministry of Communications by September 3. The ban, aimed at curbing misinformation and cybercrime, disrupted communication for 90% of Nepal’s 30 million internet users, including families reliant on remittances from 7.5% of the population abroad. Critics saw it as an attempt to silence a viral "Nepo Kid" campaign exposing elite corruption amid 20.8% youth unemployment and a $1,300 per capita income.

September 8: Protests turn deadly

Mass protests erupted, organised by groups like Hami Nepal under the slogan “Shut Down Corruption, Not Social Media.” Thousands, many in school uniforms, marched on Kathmandu’s Parliament, with rallies spreading to Pokhara, Biratnagar, Bharatpur, and Itahari. Clashes with police, who used tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, killed 19 (17 in Kathmandu, 2 in Itahari) and injured over 300. Hospitals, including the National Trauma Center, were overwhelmed, with tear gas hindering treatment. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned that evening, citing moral responsibility, and the government lifted the ban after an emergency cabinet meeting.

September 9: Escalation and Oli’s resignation

Despite the ban’s reversal, protests intensified, defying a nationwide curfew. Demonstrators torched Parliament, the Supreme Court, Singha Durbar, and residences of leaders like Oli and Nepali Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba. The death toll rose to 22, with over 400 injured. Oli resigned, citing an “adverse situation” requiring a “constitutional solution.” President Ram Chandra Paudel accepted the resignation and invited protest leaders for talks. The Nepal Army deployed from 10:00 PM, with Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel urging dialogue but warning of stricter measures.

September 9–10: Prison breaks and chaos

Amid the unrest, over 7,557 inmates escaped from 13 correctional facilities as police abandoned posts, some attacked by protesters. The escapes, initially reported as 900 from western Nepal, prompted a nationwide manhunt by police and military units. Authorities urged citizens to report suspicious activities, raising public safety concerns.

By Khagan Isayev