Nepal returns to calm as woman PM takes charge

Nepal’s capital on Saturday took a step back towards normality after deadly anti-corruption protests, as daily life returned with a curfew eased and an interim prime minister sworn into office.

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Soldiers scaled back their presence on the streets, where they had been deployed in large numbers since Wednesday after violent demonstrations toppled the government and left parliament in flames.

At least 51 people were killed in the worst unrest since the end of a decade-long civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.

On Friday evening, 73-year-old former chief justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as interim leader, tasked with restoring order and addressing protesters’ demands for a corruption-free future.

Parliament was later dissolved, elections set for March 5, 2026, and work to restore the government began.

By Saturday morning, the mood on the streets was calmer, with markets opening, traffic returning and families visiting temples.

'SATISFIED TODAY'

For many Nepalis, Karki’s appointment carried both symbolic weight and the promise of change.