Nepal is counting the devastating human and economic cost of last week’s anti-corruption protests, which spiraled into some of the deadliest unrest in recent memory. At least 72 people were killed in just two days of violence, while scores were left with life-threatening injuries, according to official reports.
The scale of destruction was staggering. Protesters stormed parliament and government offices, setting them ablaze in scenes that shocked the nation. Even private establishments were not spared, with the newly opened Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu engulfed in flames. Police confirmed that the chaos caused multi-million-dollar damage, leaving scars that will take years to heal.
“So much has been destroyed,” police spokesman Binod Ghimire told AFP, adding that authorities were still working to assess the full extent of the damage, which extended far beyond the capital.
Nepal’s new interim Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, who only assumed office on Sunday, described the protests as a “widespread loss of lives and property,” pledging to restore order but acknowledging the enormous challenges ahead.
At the Supreme Court complex, the impact was visible. The building stood gutted, its interior reduced to ash. Officials, now working under makeshift tents, attempted to salvage water-damaged files as the shells of burned vehicles lined the compound. AFP journalists at the scene reported that entire halls of parliament had been reduced to charred ruins after fires burned uncontrolled for hours on September 9.
The hospitality sector was hit particularly hard. The Hotel Association of Nepal revealed that more than 20 hotels were damaged, some looted in the chaos. Losses were estimated at 25 billion Nepali rupees ($177 million), with the Hilton Hotel alone accounting for as much as $56 million in damage. More than 2,000 workers in the sector were directly affected.
Tourism, one of Nepal’s economic lifelines, is expected to take a severe hit. The industry is the country’s fourth-largest employer, providing jobs to more than 371,000 people and attracting over a million international visitors each year. With widespread destruction in the capital’s hospitality and tourism infrastructure, experts warn that confidence in Nepal as a safe destination could dwindle, deepening the economic toll.
echoes of past unrest
The violence has drawn comparisons to Nepal’s turbulent political history. In 2006, the country witnessed the “People’s Movement” that forced King Gyanendra to relinquish absolute power, paving the way for a fragile democratic transition. Later, in 2015, protests erupted again over the adoption of the new constitution, with grievances over federalism and representation leaving dozens dead.
This latest wave of unrest, however, differs in both its scale and its focus. Unlike the earlier political movements that centered on governance and constitutional change, these protests were fueled by widespread frustration with entrenched corruption, economic stagnation, and what many see as a government disconnected from the struggles of ordinary citizens.
Analysts say this disillusionment has created a dangerous cocktail of anger and despair. “People feel betrayed by promises of reform that never materialized,” noted a Kathmandu-based political analyst. “The fires that destroyed parliament and the Hilton are symbolic of the burning frustration consuming Nepal.”
a nation at crossroads
For many Nepalis, the destruction is not just material but emotional — a reflection of broken trust between the state and its people. “We’ve lost lives, we’ve lost jobs, and we’ve lost hope,” one resident told local media while surveying the ruins near parliament.
As Nepal struggles to restore calm, Prime Minister Karki faces mounting pressure to address corruption while also spearheading recovery efforts. International observers note that the path ahead will be daunting, requiring both political stability and urgent humanitarian and economic support.
The aftermath of the protests has left Nepal at a crossroads: either embark on meaningful reform to heal the wounds of its people, or risk slipping further into cycles of unrest and instability — a history the Himalayan nation knows all too well.
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