The federal government has issued urgent warnings for Australians in Nepal as violent unrest grips the country, leaving at least 19 people dead and hundreds injured after police opened fire on anti-government demonstrators.
Senator Penny Wong said on X that the Australian Government is “deeply concerned about escalating civil unrest and violence in Nepal.” She offered condolences to the families of those who have died and expressed support for the injured.
Wong urged Australians already in the country to shelter in place and follow local authorities’ guidance. She added that anyone needing urgent consular help should contact DFAT’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre.
Smartraveller website has urged travellers to avoid protest zones and comply with local authorities. “Be alert and limit your movements in these areas,” the advice stated, cautioning Australians to seek alternative communication methods amid the social media blackout.
The protests erupted over the government’s decision to ban 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and X, sparking what have been dubbed the “Gen Z protests”. Tens of thousands of demonstrators surrounded the Parliament building in Kathmandu, forcing riot police to retreat as clashes escalated.
Police official Shekhar Khanal confirmed at least 145 people were wounded, including 28 officers. Curfews were swiftly imposed around key government sites, with authorities warning more restrictions could be enforced at short notice.
Meanwhile in Melbourne, the Consulate of Nepal in Victoria postponed the signing of a Sister City Memorandum of Understanding with Merri-bek City Council, citing the “tragic incident in Nepal that has claimed multiple lives.” A candlelight vigil was held at Federation Square in memory of the young lives lost, with organisers confirming it will continue on Tuesday morning.
The crisis deepened overnight when Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned, bowing to mass pressure as anger over corruption, nepotism, and the social media ban fuelled the country’s worst unrest in decades. Despite the government rolling back the ban on Monday night, protests continued across the capital, with students in uniform joining rallies and Kathmandu airport forced to shut down.
The Nepal Army has announced it will assume control of law and order across the country, declaring a state of high alert. Troops have already been deployed to key sites, including the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.
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