Nepal plunged into turmoil on Tuesday as violent protests over a controversial social media ban and corruption allegations left at least 19 people dead, forced the resignation of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, and shut down Kathmandu’s international airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority ordered Tribhuvan International Airport closed with immediate effect, halting all incoming and outgoing flights. Air India and IndiGo suspended their Kathmandu services, urging passengers to rebook or seek refunds.
Videos on social media showed protesters attacking and torching the homes of top leaders, including President Ram Chandra Poudel, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal. A private school owned by Foreign Minister Arzu Deuba Rana was also set ablaze.
Oli announced his resignation in a televised address, saying he was stepping down “in the interest of peace and stability.”
The unrest began after the government blocked Facebook, X, YouTube, and other platforms for failing to register locally. Critics denounced the ban as censorship, and young activists mobilized through TikTok, VPNs, and encrypted apps to stage what has become known as the “Gen-Z Protest.”
Authorities lifted the social media ban late Monday, but demonstrations had already escalated into a full-scale anti-government uprising. A nationwide curfew remains in place as security forces struggle to contain the viol
