KEY POINTS
- Wife of ex-PM Jhala Nath Khanal killed after residence torched by protesters.
- At least 19 dead, 100 injured in nationwide anti-government unrest.
- Parliament building and politicians’ homes set ablaze; curfew widely defied.
- PM Oli resigns; army appeals for calm as youth-led protests escalate.
KATHMANDU, Nepal: The wife of former Nepalese Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal has died after being burned alive when protesters set fire to her residence amid escalating anti-government unrest, TIME, Newsweek, and other regional media reported Tuesday.
The violence, which has plunged Nepal into its worst political crisis in years, saw demonstrators torch the parliament and supreme court buildings and homes of political leaders.
At least 19 people have been killed and more than 100 injured as tens of thousands defied curfews in Kathmandu and other cities.
The protests—driven largely by young Nepalis—erupted after the government banned social media platforms.
Although the restriction has since been reversed, deep frustration over corruption, economic stagnation, and lack of opportunities continues to fuel the unrest.
Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli announced his resignation as the crisis intensified. The military has appealed for calm, urging protesters to act “responsibly and remain disciplined.”
The unrest also saw attacks on other political figures. Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, were assaulted at their residence before being rescued by the army. Video footage circulating online showed Mr. Deuba injured during the evacuation.
The Nepali Army, in a statement, expressed condolences over the loss of life and reiterated its commitment to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, stability, and unity.
With the political vacuum deepening, fears are mounting that the unrest could spiral further unless the dialogue between the government, opposition, and youth leaders is urgently initiated.
