Hundreds of people crowded Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport Thursday seeking flights out of Nepal as the army worked to restore order following two days of violent protests that left government buildings in flames and forced the prime minister to resign and flee.
The airport, which reopened late Wednesday after being closed during the unrest, began handling international flights again on Thursday. Soldiers were deployed across the capital, checking vehicles, guarding streets and assisting residents after a curfew was briefly lifted early Thursday, prompting crowds to rush to buy food staples.
The violence erupted Monday after a short-lived government ban on social media platforms including Facebook, X and YouTube. Police opened fire during demonstrations and clashes escalated Tuesday, with protesters setting fire to the presidential residence, parliament building, the central secretariat housing the prime minister’s and key ministries’ offices, and the prime minister’s official residence.
The Health Ministry said Wednesday that at least 30 people have been killed and 1,033 injured as reports of casualties came in from across the country. Media offices, including the building of Kantipur, Nepal’s largest publication, and car showrooms were also damaged in the unrest. Smoke was still rising from several charred official buildings on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli resigned Tuesday amid the unrest, and President Ram Chandra Poudel asked him to lead a transitional government until a new administration could be formed. Oli fled his official residence during the chaos and his whereabouts were not immediately clear, leaving residents uncertain about who was in charge.
"It was very difficult time for us. We had trouble just to get to airport and back to hotel hoping for flights but finally I have found a seat and am going to be flying out of Nepal," said Raj Kumar Bika, a chicken farmer who was trying to get to New Delhi for business.
Protest leaders met military officials at army headquarters Wednesday to discuss options for an interim leader. A representative of the protesters, Rehan Raj Dangal, said the group proposed Sushila Karki, a former chief justice, to head an interim government. Some protesters opposed that nomination.
The demonstrations, which drew thousands, were initially triggered by the social media ban that the government said was imposed because platforms had failed to register with authorities and submit to oversight. The ban was lifted Tuesday, but the protests continued and broadened to encompass long-standing grievances among young people.
Many protesters cited frustration with entrenched political privilege and a lack of employment opportunities. Youth unemployment reached about 20% last year, according to the World Bank, and the government has estimated more than 2,000 young Nepalis leave the country daily for work in the Middle East or Southeast Asia.
"We are compelled to go abroad because there is no future for people like us in Nepal," said Asmita Poudel, who was waiting to board a flight to Dubai.
Security forces initially struggled to contain the unrest and the army, which is rarely mobilized domestically, was kept in barracks as police lost control. Soldiers were deployed late Tuesday after the violence intensified, saying they were committed to preserving law and order. On Wednesday, soldiers quelled a jailbreak in central Kathmandu after inmates overpowered guards, set fire to buildings and attempted to escape; authorities said the inmates were apprehended and transferred to other jails with no reported injuries during the operation.
Residents and shop owners surveyed charred government residences and damaged city streets with burned-out vehicles and broken storefronts. "I feel there should be an election soonest and new leaders who are able to work for the country should be elected," said shop owner Sanu Bohara. Retired government officer Anup Keshar Thapa said the protests' disorganization left uncertainty about leadership and whether people would accept an interim authority.
As soldiers maintained a presence in Kathmandu and key sites were secured, officials continued to search for a clear path to forming a transitional government. The situation remained fluid, with many residents trying to leave and authorities working to reestablish essential services and public order.