Nepal plunged deeper into political turmoil on Tuesday as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned from office following days of violent anti-corruption protests that left at least 19 people dead.
The unrest, initially triggered by a since-revoked social media ban, intensified as demonstrators defied an indefinite curfew and clashed with security forces in the capital. Witnesses reported police firing tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds attempting to storm Parliament.
Minutes before Oli’s resignation, Gen Z-led protesters broke into Parliament and set fire to one of its buildings. Protesters also torched Oli’s residence in Balkot, Bhaktapur, along with homes belonging to other senior leaders.
Amid escalating violence, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu was fully closed due to security concerns and fire incidents in nearby areas including Gothatar. Both domestic and international flights remain suspended until further notice, with the Nepali Army deployed to secure the airport.
“The PM has quit,” Oli’s aide Prakash Silwal confirmed to Reuters, marking the end of his administration after one of the deadliest waves of unrest the Himalayan nation has seen in decades.
