Nepal Gen Z Protest Updates: Sushila Karki says 'ready' to head interim govt; death toll crosses 30

The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has suspended its Delhi-Kathmandu international bus service due to the ongoing unrest in Nepal, officials said on Wednesday.

“The bus service, known as the Delhi-Kathmandu Maitri Bus Sewa, symbolises the strong ties between India and Nepal and is popular among travellers. We are suspending it for now and will resume once the situation stabilises,” an official told PTI.

Passengers who had booked tickets will be refunded, another official added.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said her government is in constant touch with the embassies of Nepal and India to ensure the safe return of city residents from the violence-hit Himalayan nation.

In a post on X, Gupta said she had a long phone conversation with Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Shankar Sharma, and India’s Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava.

“Our government is in constant contact with both embassies and relevant agencies to ensure the safety, assistance, and earliest possible return of Delhi residents stranded in Nepal,” she said.

The aftermath of the anti-corruption protests saw the official residences of cabinet ministers in Bhaisepati, Lalitpur, vandalised and set on fire.

Sushila Karki said she is ready to assume the role. “The Gen-Z group led the recent movement in Nepal and trusted me to lead the government for a short period,” she said.

She added that her first priority would be to support and honour the families of those who died in the protests. “Our immediate focus will be on the young people who lost their lives during the demonstrations,” Karki said.

Violent anti-government protests led by Nepal’s Gen-Z movement have left at least 30 people dead, including three policemen, and more than 1,200 injured over the past two days, police and officials said on Wednesday.

“Nineteen people, mostly youths, were killed by security forces during protests in front of Parliament on Monday,” authorities said. Three policemen died in a mob attack in Koteshwor, and three protesters were killed in clashes at Kalimati Police Station. Following the unrest and PM KP Sharma Oli’s resignation, the Nepal Army has imposed nationwide restrictions and a curfew.

Nepal’s army chief, General Ashok Raj Sigdel, met youth protest leaders and key political parties on Wednesday, following demonstrations that toppled the prime minister and set fire to parliament, a military spokesperson told AFP.

“General Sigdel is holding consultations with all relevant stakeholders and met with representatives of Gen Z,” said army spokesman Rajaram Basnet.

Nepal’s Gen-Z protest movement has picked former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as its interim leader, ANI reported citing sources. In a nearly four-hour virtual meeting, youth organisers agreed that no one linked to political parties should lead and chose Karki to represent them in upcoming talks, Khabarhub said.

Karki served as Nepal’s first female Chief Justice from 2016 to 2017 and was suspended after an impeachment motion accused her of bias.

Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first woman Chief Justice and now interim leader of the Gen-Z movement, spoke to CNN-News18 about her role. She said the youth group trusted her to lead the government temporarily.

In the interview, she said, “Gen Z believed in me to lead the government for the short time. I am ready for the responsibility.”

The Indian Embassy in Nepal has helped an Indian woman who shared a video on social media asking for assistance. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this in a post on X.

He also shared two emergency contact numbers for Indians stranded in Nepal:
+977-9808602881

In a virtual meeting that lasted nearly four hours, members of Nepal’s Gen-Z movement agreed to appoint former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as their interim leader for upcoming talks. The group emphasised that no youth linked to political parties should take part in leadership discussions, and chose Karki for her neutrality as she is not affiliated with any political group.

Participants said there was no other suitable candidate for the role and decided to release a formal notice confirming her leadership. Names of Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah and young political leader Sagar Dhakal were also considered. The group stressed that both leadership and agenda must have universal acceptance. Earlier, Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel had suggested that Gen-Z representatives engage with the Rastriya Swatantra Party and Durga Prasai, a proposal the group rejected.

Air India Express has announced flexible options for passengers affected by the unrest in Nepal.

“In view of the prevailing situation in Nepal, we are offering guests booked to travel to or from Nepal up to 17 September 2025 the option to freely reschedule their journeys to any future date, with a complete waiver of change fees or fare difference,” an Air India Express spokesperson said.

The airline added that passengers who choose to cancel their bookings for these dates will receive a full refund to their original mode of payment or through their travel agent.

Lawmakers from Nepal’s Nagarik Unmukti Party have resigned collectively, demanding the dissolution of parliament.

They are the third party to step down en masse, after 21 MPs from the Rastriya Swatantra Party and 14 MPs from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party resigned earlier. Nagarik Unmukti contributed four MPs to the resignations.

Meanwhile, there are reports that seven MPs from the Janata Samajbadi Party and six from the Janamat Party, both part of the Oli government, may also resign together. Party sources say a decision will be made after an internal meeting of MPs.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to strengthen surveillance along the state’s border with Nepal amid growing political turmoil in the neighbouring country.

In a high-level video meeting on Tuesday night, Dhami instructed district administrations, police, and security forces to closely monitor border points and check for anti-social or disruptive elements. He stressed strict control of entry routes and heightened vigilance over cross-border movement.

The meeting, attended by Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, DGP Deepam Seth, and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) officials, reviewed the evolving situation. Dhami asked authorities in Pithoragarh, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar to coordinate closely with central security agencies and the SSB.

He also urged community involvement in border security, calling on villagers, local committees, police, and forest officials to work together. Monitoring social media to prevent rumours, misinformation, and provocative content was also highlighted.

China on Wednesday advised its citizens caught in the middle of Nepal unrest to “avoid going out unless necessary”. In response to questions about the Chinese nationals currently stranded in Nepal, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said no reports of casualties among Chinese nationals had been received.

Lin said following the protests in Nepal, the foreign ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Nepal immediately activated consular protection emergency mechanisms, requesting that Nepali authorities ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions.

The embassy has been maintaining close contact with Chinese nationals and institutions on the ground, guiding them on safety precautions and emergency measures, and actively providing assistance to those in need, Lin said.

The Gen-Z group is holding a virtual meeting to prepare its agenda. Around 300–400 participants have joined the online session, according to member Anil Baniya.

“We are meeting virtually to finalize our agenda. All members will discuss and come up with a strong, unified plan,” Baniya told Khabarhub. The group has been actively organising protests and discussions in recent days, and this online meeting aims to coordinate their next steps.

China on Wednesday called on Nepal to resolve its internal crisis peacefully and restore stability after violent youth-led protests forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.

“China and Nepal are traditional friendly neighbours,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, urging “all sections of Nepal” to “properly handle domestic issues” and restore social order “as soon as possible.”

This marks Beijing’s first official response to the unrest. Lin did not comment directly on Oli’s resignation, despite the former prime minister’s close ties with China and his role in strengthening Kathmandu-Beijing relations.

Nepal faces renewed political chaos after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stepped down amid violent protests over corruption and poor governance. Soldiers are patrolling Kathmandu as the country struggles with a history of unstable coalitions. Since becoming a republic in 2008, Nepal has seen 14 governments, none of which have completed a full term.

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Several Indian citizens, including four families from Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh, are stuck in Nepal as Gen Z protests escalate. Fourteen people, including children, remain holed up in a Kathmandu hotel and have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for safe evacuation.

Chhatarpur district officials are in contact with the stranded citizens and coordinating with the central government. The Ministry of External Affairs is monitoring the situation and working with the Indian Embassy in Nepal to ensure their safe return.

The Indian government is preparing special aircraft to evacuate its citizens stranded at Kathmandu airport, which remains closed today. Over 400 Indian nationals have been stuck at the airport since yesterday.

Officials are coordinating with the Nepali Army to send aircraft from Delhi and ensure a safe evacuation. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu is actively liaising with Nepali authorities to facilitate the operation.

Discussions are also ongoing to deploy two Indian Air Force planes to assist in the evacuation.

A sense of normalcy returned to Kathmandu on Wednesday after two days of violent protests that left 19 people, mostly youths, dead on Monday.

The Nepal Army has taken control of security, with troops deployed across the capital. Using loudspeakers, the Army is urging citizens to stay calm, maintain order, and avoid vandalism.

In a statement on Wednesday morning, the Army said prohibitory orders remain in place until 5 pm, followed by a curfew from 5 pm to 6 am on Thursday.

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane, who was allowed to meet inmates at Nakkhu Prison on Tuesday, has reportedly been released to ensure the safety of other prisoners, The Himalayan Times reported.

Lamichhane had been detained in connection with a cooperative savings case.

Footage captures the Supreme Court engulfed in flames amid violent demonstrations.

Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu gutted after being set ablaze during anti-corruption protests.

The Armed Police Force (APF) carried out patrols in Kathmandu, a day after violent anti-government protests swept the country.

India has strengthened security along its border with Nepal following violent youth-led protests over a social media ban and corruption, which led to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s resignation. State police teams have joined the border guarding force, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), to prevent any spillover of unrest into Indian territory.

“An alert has been issued on the India-Nepal border, considering the unrest in Nepal. Sashastra Seema Bal is keeping a close watch on the development,” an official told news agency ANI.