Nepal Government Falls as Protests Leave 25 Dead

Nepal has plunged into political turmoil after the government collapsed amid two days of violent unrest that left at least 25 people dead and more than 600 injured, prompting the army to impose a strict curfew in the capital, Kathmandu.

Soldiers patrolled the streets and ordered residents to remain indoors after protesters set fire to government buildings in the city. The unrest, the most severe the Himalayan nation has faced in recent years, erupted on Monday following a temporary government ban on social media. 

The ban sparked outrage and was followed by a police crackdown in which officers opened fire on demonstrators.

By Tuesday, the protests escalated into direct attacks on state institutions, with thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets. The Ministry of Health confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll had risen to 25, while 633 others sustained injuries during clashes.

The crisis forced Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli to resign on Tuesday. President Ram Chandra Paudel requested that Oli head a caretaker administration until a new government could be formed, but reports indicate that Oli has since fled his official residence, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Meanwhile, leaders of the protest movement met with military officials at the army headquarters in Kathmandu to discuss the appointment of an interim leader. Among the names being proposed is Sushila Karki, a former chief justice who enjoys wide public support.