Seventy‑plus Dead, Hundreds Injured as Nepal’s “Gen Z” Protests Over Social Media Ban Escalate Nationwide

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Kathmandu | September 15, 2025 : Tension, sorrow, and outrage have gripped Nepal following a wave of youth‑led protests ignited by a government ban on several social media platforms. What began as an online outcry has turned into mass demonstrations across the country, culminating in violent clashes, a rising death toll, widespread unrest, and political upheaval.

The protests—labelled the Gen Z movement—started on September 8, 2025, when thousands of young people took to the streets in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Butwal, Birgunj, Itahari and other cities. The immediate trigger was the government’s decision to block 26 social media platforms, which authorities claimed failed to comply with a registration requirement. For many youths, that action was seen as yet another suppression of voice amid persistent grievances about corruption, inequality, and lack of opportunity.  

On that first day of protest, security forces used tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition in response to demonstrators who tried to breach barriers near Parliament, including in Kathmandu. The confrontations turned deadly. At least 19 people were killed that day, and hundreds more were injured, with numerous critical cases in hospitals across the capital.  

Over the following days, the unrest spread and intensified. Public buildings, including Parliament itself, were set ablaze; curfews were enforced in multiple districts; and anger mounted at government inaction. The Ministry of Health and Population’s latest figures place the death toll at 72 as of September 14, including a number of cases caused by gunshot wounds, burns, and other injuries. Over 1,300 people have been wounded. 

Amid the chaos, political pressure soared. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned, and the government lifted the social media ban. Interim leadership has been appointed, with Sushila Karki, former Chief Justice, sworn in as Nepal’s first woman Prime Minister. She has pledged compensation for the families of those killed and free medical care for the injured, and promised reforms and defeat of impunity.  

The scale of destruction is significant: not only human lives lost, but symbolic structures too—government offices, judicial buildings, even Parliament—have suffered damage, raising concern about both immediate recovery and long term impact on institutions.  

Public sentiment remains volatile. The Gen Z protesters continue to insist that their movement not be co‑opted, demanding transparent governance, accountability for those responsible for indiscriminate use of force, and concrete efforts to address corruption. The interim government is under pressure to deliver on reform, restore public trust, and turn what began as outrage over social media into meaningful change.

While the situation remains fluid, what is clear is that Nepal has entered a new chapter in civic activism. The sacrifices made by those who died or were wounded are fueling demands for clarity, justice, and a future where young voices are not silenced.