Massive demonstrations broke out in many places across Nepal have caused casualties and property damage. On September 9, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal issued a statement saying that many local government buildings were burned, many blocked roads and set fires, violent riots, etc., which caused political turmoil and the security situation was severe.
On September 10, several Chinese citizens living in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and Pokhara, the second largest city, told the Beijing News reporter that they are currently at home to take risks, and local communications, water and electricity and other living infrastructure have not been affected, and some stores have resumed business. But roads are still under control and curfew measures are still continuing. The army has taken over the city, and there are soldiers patrolling the streets, signaling the masses not to go out.
▲Demonstrations resulted in some buildings being burned. Photo provided by the interviewee
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Marchers attacked the government, and some buildings were burned
The tourists living near a commercial street in Tamil District, Kathmandu, recalled that the parade began around September 8th local time. She heard from local people that due to government corruption and the government blockade of some social media, local youth were dissatisfied and began to march and demonstrate. The main targets of the demonstration were government-related personnel and buildings, and there were also cases of shops being smashed and looted.
On September 9, local time, through the window of a hotel room, she witnessed the scene of a family across the street being smashed twice in a row. At around 14:00 local time on the 9th, densely packed parades surrounded the door of the house, holding sticks, stones, or bare hands, and demolished the iron gate at the entrance of the courtyard and swarmed in. Soon, fires popped up in the courtyard and parades left one after another. At around 18 o'clock, the marchers broke into the yard of the house again and ignited the building. "It is said that it is the home of a government-related person," she said.
Ms. Zhou, who lives in a residential area of Tamil District, recalled that after the march, demonstrators began to attack government-related buildings. On September 9th local time, when she stood on the rooftop to check, there were many buildings burning around her, and black smoke enveloped the city.
On the same day, a demonstration broke out in another city, Pokhara. Ms. Lin, who lives in the local area, recalled that in order to support the parade in Kathmandu, many local people attacked government buildings. At the demonstration, police officers were armed with weapons to maintain stability. "Officials were pushed down the river and chased and beaten in the river." Some marchers smashed the glass of some shops and hotels on the street, broke in and emptied the items, and set fire to the fire. "It is said that those are the property of government officials."
▲A vehicle was burned during the parade. Photo provided by the interviewee
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Store closed, traffic is blocked
After the march began, a curfew was imposed in both places, almost all shops on the street were closed, the traffic flow on the street was reduced sharply, and some traffic roads were controlled.
Because there was no reserved supplies, Ms. Lin had to go out to find food on the street on the 9th local time. Fortunately, a Chinese-run restaurant opened the originally closed doors and windows for her, and she had a meal. That night, she saw the ground covered with glass fragments and ashes on the street, some buildings were burned black, and fire was shining inside the building.
On September 9, local time, Nepali Prime Minister Oli submitted his resignation to President Baudel. In his resignation, Oli said he resigned from the prime minister in view of the "current abnormal situation" of the country in order to "further promote political solution."
On September 10, local Chinese citizens told reporters that the army had taken over Kathmandu and Pokhara, and some stores had resumed business.
But traffic is still blocked. Ms. Zhou said that some of the main roads in Kathmandu are still under control and she plans to live in Pokhara when the control is over.
According to CCTV News, at noon on the 10th local time, the Tribwan International Airport Office in Kathmandu announced that the airport has been closed indefinitely considering the situation in the Kathmandu Valley and the impact of visibility and safety hazards on the airport runway. Currently, both domestic and international flights in Nepal are affected.
Xiao Yu told reporters that he can only return to China through the Zhangmu (land) port at present.
Source: Beijing News reporter
