New Nepalese PM meets injured Gen Z protesters

Nepal's first woman prime minister made hospital visits to injured protesters her first official act on Saturday, as the country slowly returned to normalcy under military watch.

- Prawesh Lama

Sushila Karki, 73, visited two hospitals to meet families of people wounded when police opened fire on anti-corruption demonstrators, a day after taking her oath as interim prime minister following unprecedented violence that killed at least 51 people.

She also visited the sites that were damaged and set on fire by protesters. Nepal police on their social media handles shared photos of Karki visiting the sites across the city.

Karki was sworn in Friday night after daylong deliberations between President Ramchandra Poudel, army officials and Gen Z representatives, while citizens remained confined to their homes under strict military curfew.

Saturday morning brought the first lifting of curfew restrictions since protests erupted Monday, allowing citizens onto Kathmandu's streets where volunteers swept debris from the week of violence. The scene drew praise from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who congratulated Karki “on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians” and highlighted the cleanup efforts.

‘The former Supreme Court chief justice has not yet announced her cabinet, with the president's office saying it awaits her nominations. Karki declined to speak with reporters.