Nepal PM Resigns Amid Protests, Protesters Set House on Fire

Nepal’s Parliament building, Supreme Court, and residences of several senior leaders were set ablaze on Tuesday as anti-government protests spiralled out of control, minutes after Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned.

Visuals shared by news agency PTI confirmed the fire at the Supreme Court, while the storming and burning of Parliament was reported by television channels and attested to by multiple reporters on the ground.

Allegations of rampant corruption have brought the country's youth onto the streets across several districts.

Oli, who was not present at the house and is staying at the official Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, has come under growing pressure after Monday’s protests spiraled into deadly clashes, shaking India’s Himalayan neighbour with scenes of arson, road blockades and violent confrontations.

At least 19 people have been reported dead as of Tuesday afternoon.

Despite lifting the social media ban on Monday night in an attempt to calm tempers, the government’s move failed to pacify protesters, who accuse Oli’s administration of “widespread corruption and abuse of power.”

The anger has since morphed into direct demands for the Prime Minister’s resignation.

The unrest has already forced ministerial resignations. Agriculture Minister Ram Nath Adhikari stepped down Tuesday, denouncing the violent crackdown on demonstrators, while Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned earlier, taking moral responsibility for the state’s mishandling of the protests.

The violence has spread well beyond the capital. The house of Minister for Communication Prithvi Subba Gurung was set ablaze, while the residences of Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Paudel, Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Biswo Paudel and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak were also attacked.