At least 51 individuals have lost their lives in the ongoing anticorruption protests sweeping Nepal this week, as authorities grapple with widespread chaos including the escape of thousands of prisoners from jails across the country.
The violence has left a heavy toll, with police reporting 21 protesters, nine inmates, three officers, and 18 others among the dead, including one Indian woman.
Additionally, more than 1,300 people have sustained injuries during clashes as security forces attempted to manage the crowds.
The demonstrations, driven largely by Gen Z youth, ignited on Monday following a government ban on social media and widespread frustration over corruption and poor governance.
A police crackdown that day resulted in 19 protester deaths, escalating tensions that led to the parliament being set ablaze on Tuesday.
This prompted the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, after which the army assumed control of the streets and imposed a curfew to restore order.
Amid the turmoil, over 13,500 prisoners escaped from multiple facilities, with 12,533 still at large despite some recaptures.
Some fugitives have attempted to flee into India, where border forces have detained several.
The army has recovered more than 100 looted guns, noting instances of protesters wielding automatic rifles during the unrest.
As political leaders convene to address the crisis, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki is expected to be appointed as interim prime minister in a move aimed at appeasing the youth activists.
This decision follows meetings involving President Ramchandra Paudel, army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, Karki, and representatives from the Gen Z movement.
Karki's anticorruption stance makes her a consensus figure among the protesters, though questions linger about her eligibility without parliamentary membership, potentially leading to further constitutional challenges.
Health officials report that 284 individuals remain under treatment in 52 hospitals, while over 1,771 injured have been discharged.
In Kathmandu, shops are reopening, traffic is resuming, and police are shifting from firearms to batons, indicating a gradual return to normalcy despite some blocked roads and ongoing patrols.
Families continue to receive the bodies of those killed, with one relative, Karuna Budhathoki, recounting the loss of her 23-year-old nephew who persisted in protesting despite warnings from friends.
Nepal, situated between India and China, has faced persistent political and economic woes since ending its monarchy in 2008, exacerbated by unemployment that drives many to seek opportunities abroad.