Sitting outside the gates of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital’s mortuary in Kathmandu, Narendra Shrestha clutches his son’s memory. His 21-year-old son, Sulov, was one of more than 70 people killed in Nepal’s recent violent protests.
“Everyone said rubber bullet, rubber bullet. But it was not a rubber bullet,” Mr Shrestha said, his voice breaking. “If you see my son, his head was broken, a hole is there. Who will we live for now?”
His grief echoes across dozens of families who lost young loved ones during the anti-corruption demonstrations that erupted after the government banned social media. The protests, which quickly escalated into a nationwide movement, toppled Nepal’s government but left behind a trail of heartbreak.
A Nation in Turmoil
The unrest began when authorities blocked platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and X, citing concerns about misinformation and hate speech. But anger had already been simmering over corruption and poor governance.
By the time the ban was lifted, it was too late. Thousands of protesters—many from Generation Z—flooded Kathmandu’s streets. Within 48 hours, violence had engulfed the capital:
Parliament was set ablaze
Politicians’ homes were torched
More than 1,000 people were injured
Many of those killed were shot, with families alleging that police used live ammunition, not just rubber bullets. Others died in fires or clashes during the chaos.
Dreams Cut Short
Outside the hospital, families waited in anguish to identify bodies.
Subash Bohora, 21 – once dreamed of becoming a judge. He died outside parliament after being shot in the neck.
Ayush Thapa, 19 – a French language student interested in joining the British Army. He was shot in the chest.
Abhishek Chaulagain, 22 – a hotel worker and student, killed by a bullet to the forehead.
Sulov Raj Shrestha, 21 – whose father now mourns: “Sorry doesn’t make a dead son come alive again.”
Each life lost carried aspirations and stories abruptly cut short.
Hospitals Overwhelmed
The violence pushed Nepal’s medical system to its breaking point.
Bir Hospital treated 173 patients in one night, with five deaths and several critical cases.
Civil Service Hospital saw 450 emergency cases in just two days. Staff compared the crisis to the 2015 earthquake but said the bloodshed was even harder to manage.
Doctors reported treating patients with live bullet wounds, contradicting official claims that only rubber bullets were used.
A Country at a Crossroads
The protests forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign, paving the way for Sushila Karki, a 73-year-old former chief justice, to become Nepal’s interim leader. She has promised fresh elections in March 2026 and an investigation into the killings.
But for grieving families, justice feels distant. “International law says they are not allowed to shoot,” said 22-year-old Abishek Shrestha, recovering from a gunshot wound to his leg. “We have to change this.”
Pain Without Closure
For Narendra Shrestha, no investigation or apology will bring back his son.
“Politicians will say sorry,” he said quietly. “But sorry doesn’t make a dead son come alive again.”
The scars of this tragedy may take years to heal, but for families like his, the wounds are permanent.
