Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, wife of Nepal’s former prime minister Jhalanath Khanal, has died after being trapped inside her burning home during violent anti-government protests in the capital on Tuesday.
According to reports, protesters surrounded the couple’s residence in Dallu, Kathmandu, and set it ablaze. Chitrakar was rushed to Kirtipur Burn Hospital but did not survive her injuries, family members confirmed.
The unrest, driven largely by young demonstrators angered by a government ban on social media platforms, has plunged Nepal into chaos. Although the ban was lifted Monday night, outrage intensified following the deaths of 19 protesters in police gunfire, fueling calls for accountability and highlighting deep frustrations over corruption and inequality.
Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, whose own house was also torched, announced his resignation on Tuesday. His finance minister, Bishnu Prasad Paudel, 65, was caught and brutally attacked by protesters in Kathmandu, a disturbing incident captured on video.
The movement—dubbed the “Gen Z protests”—began after the government blocked Facebook, X, YouTube, and other sites for failing to register with authorities. But it quickly morphed into a broader uprising against political elites and their families, often derided as “Nepo Kids,” who live in privilege while young Nepalis struggle with joblessness and limited opportunities.
As the violence escalated, flights between Delhi and Kathmandu were cancelled by Air India, IndiGo, and Nepal Airlines. India’s government also issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to defer trips to Nepal until stability returns.
