Wife of former Nepali PM Burns to Death After Protesters Set Fire To Her Home
Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, the wife of former Nepali Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, has died from severe burn injuries after being trapped in a fire set by protesters at their Kathmandu residence.
Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, wife of former Nepali Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, has tragically died after being trapped in a fire set by protesters at their residence in the Dallu area of Kathmandu. She was rushed to Kirtipur Burn Hospital in critical condition but succumbed to severe burn injuries during treatment, according to family sources cited by Nepali outlet Khabarhub.
The Nepali Army rescued former Prime Minister Khanal before the blaze engulfed their home, but Chitrakar was unable to escape in time. The incident occurred amid escalating anti-government protests led primarily by Generation Z, sparked by a now-lifted ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, as well as widespread anger over systemic corruption and economic inequality.
The protests, which turned violent on Monday, September 8, have resulted in 500 deaths and over 400 injuries, with police using tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition to control crowds attempting to storm the Parliament building. Demonstrators also set fire to key government buildings, including the Parliament, the President’s office, and the residences of top political figures, including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who resigned earlier today (Tuesday) in response to the unrest. Oli has been appointed to lead a caretaker government until a new administration is formed.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the fire at Khanal’s home and the broader motivations behind the protests, which have highlighted generational tensions and frustration with Nepal’s political elite. The Nepali Army and security chiefs have issued a joint appeal for restraint and dialogue to resolve the crisis peacefully.
The United Nations has called for a transparent investigation into the use of force by security personnel, while countries like India have issued travel advisories and canceled flights to Kathmandu.