The death toll from Nepal’s anti-corruption protests has reached 72, according to the Health Ministry, as violence and destruction engulf the Himalayan nation. The unrest, driven by outrage over systemic corruption and economic inequality, began after the government banned 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, for failing to meet a registration deadline. Critics condemned the move as an attempt to suppress dissent, but the ban instead intensified public anger, sparking nationwide demonstrations.

Protesters, predominantly youth from cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Itahari, have mobilized through decentralized networks, using hashtags such as NepoBaby and NepoKids to highlight the extravagant lifestyles of politicians’ children amid widespread poverty. The protests, dubbed the “Gen Z movement,” feature students marching with books and schoolchildren joining in, their actions amplified by viral videos.

Security forces have responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons, while some protesters retaliated by setting fire to government buildings, including the Supreme Court and parliament. At least 1,300 people have been injured, with bodies still being recovered from destroyed structures.

Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first female leader, has called for calm, promising compensation to victims’ families and free medical care for the wounded. She pledged to hold elections by March 5 and transfer power to a new parliament. However, protesters continue defying curfews in major cities, as international rights groups urge accountability for the violence.

The crisis underscores deepening societal divides, with demands for transparency and economic equality intensifying amid ongoing turmoil.