Nepal's Tribhuvan Airport reopens

Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu reopened on Wednesday (September 10) after a two-day closure caused by nationwide protests, resuming both domestic and international flights.

Regular services will restart on Thursday morning, confirmed Buddha Air

The reopening follows unprecedented unrest triggered by a government ban on 26 social media platforms and allegations of corruption. What began on Monday as youth-led “Gen-Z” demonstrations quickly escalated into violent nationwide protests, leaving at least 19 dead and more than 347 injured. Protesters stormed the parliament, set fires in government buildings, and attacked political leaders’ residences.

Rajya Lakshmi Chitrakar, wife of former Nepali Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal, was killed in this arson.

In response to the protests, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and President Ram Chandra Paudel resigned on Tuesday, and the Nepalese army has been deployed to restore order. Security forces lifted restrictions on movement and public gatherings temporarily on Wednesday but reinstated a nationwide curfew from Thursday morning.

Authorities said they arrested 27 people and recovered nearly 373 million Nepali rupees stolen during looting and vandalism, along with 31 firearms and ammunition seized in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The unrest follows the government’s decision on September 5 to block social media platforms, citing violations of new registration rules and misuse for spreading misinformation and fraud. Analysts note the protests reflect growing frustration among Nepal’s youth over corruption, digital restrictions, and governance failures.