The wife of Nepal’s former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal has died after protesters set fire to his residence in Kathmandu, according to multiple media reports.
Indian broadcaster NDTV reported that on Tuesday, Gen-Z-led demonstrators torched Khanal’s house in the Dallu area of the capital.
His wife, Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, sustained severe burns in the blaze. Family members said she was rescued and taken to Kirtipur Burn Hospital, where she later died while undergoing treatment.
Nepal has been gripped by escalating protests against the government, led primarily by young demonstrators.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s residence was also set on fire. Protesters chased down Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel on the streets and physically assaulted him.
The unrest intensified after Monday’s demonstrations turned violent, leaving at least 19 people dead, including students, following police gunfire.
The protests quickly evolved into an anti-government movement. In response, authorities lifted restrictions on social media, but protesters’ key demand—Prime Minister Oli’s resignation—gained widespread support from opposition parties and even members of Oli’s own cabinet.
Amid the turmoil, Oli stepped down on Tuesday. That same day, protesters targeted and vandalized the homes of several ministers and political leaders.
From the afternoon, the army began airlifting ministers and senior political figures by helicopter to undisclosed military bases for safety.
Demonstrators also stormed the Singha Durbar Secretariat compound in Kathmandu. According to NDTV, citing multiple sources, President Ram Chandra Paudel is also expected to resign following Oli’s departure.
