KATHMANDU, Nepal (BN24) — Authorities in Nepal said Sunday that the death toll from last week’s anti-corruption protests has climbed to 72 as recovery teams continue to find bodies inside government offices, private homes, and businesses set ablaze during the unrest.
The Health Ministry said the new figure marks the deadliest wave of political violence in the Himalayan nation in decades. The unrest, driven largely by young Nepalis frustrated over corruption and government mismanagement, erupted last week in Kathmandu and other major cities, forcing Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign on Tuesday.
Security forces had deployed tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters who stormed and torched state institutions, including the Supreme Court, parliament, police posts, and several homes of politicians. Shops, malls, and other private properties were also set on fire.
“Bodies of many people who died in shopping malls, houses and other buildings that were set on fire or attacked are now being discovered,” Health Ministry spokesperson Prakash Budathoki said.
The ministry’s death toll stood at 51 on Saturday, but officials said the number rose as rescuers entered damaged structures. At least 2,113 people have been injured since the violence broke out.
Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki formally assumed office as interim prime minister on Sunday, becoming the first woman to lead Nepal. She has been tasked with steering the nation toward new parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5.
Karki announced that families of those killed in the protests would receive 1 million rupees (about $7,100) in compensation, while injured demonstrators would be provided with free medical care. Speaking from a temporary government building—after the prime minister’s office was among those set on fire—she emphasized the need for rapid recovery.
“We must now engage in rebuilding the destroyed structures,” Karki told senior officials, according to state television.
The political crisis has deepened uncertainty in Nepal, where young activists, fueled by online networks and public anger, have emerged as a decisive force in shaping the nation’s future.
