Kathmandu, Sep 10: The historic Pashupatinath Temple, one of Nepal’s most revered religious sites, was closed to visitors on Wednesday as violent anti-government protests intensified across the country.
The Nepalese Army has been deployed around the temple and across key areas to maintain peace and ensure security.
The unrest, largely driven by youth anger over recent government decisions, escalated after Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday under mounting pressure. Demonstrators attacked the residences of President Ramchandra Paudel and senior political leaders, while the Parliament building was also vandalised.
According to official figures, at least 22 people were killed and more than 500 injured during violent clashes on Monday between protesters and security forces. The protests erupted after the government banned 26 social media platforms, a move widely criticised as an attack on freedom of expression.
Following the bloodshed, the government lifted the ban late Monday. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and several cabinet colleagues also resigned amid the turmoil.
The Nepalese Army began large-scale deployments in Kathmandu on Tuesday night to restore order. Meanwhile, India has heightened security along the border and urged its citizens in Nepal to avoid unnecessary travel and remain indoors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting to assess the situation. Expressing anguish over the loss of lives, he emphasised the importance of peace and stability in Nepal.
“Many young people have lost their lives. The stability, peace, and prosperity of Nepal are of utmost importance to us. I humbly appeal to all my brothers and sisters in Nepal to support peace,” Modi wrote on X.
Flights to and from Kathmandu remain suspended as security forces tighten control amid fears of further unrest.