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Yashoda Adhikari and colleagues were rescued from Singha Durbar as Gen Z-led protests in Nepal turned violent.
Yashoda Adhikari, a reporter with PBS Radio Nepal in Kathmandu (News18)
Nepal Unrest: “Singha Durbar is completely burning. I don’t think we would be able to survive. At any moment, we might have to fight the fire ourselves. The smoke is making it difficult to breathe.” A desperate message seeking immediate help was posted Yashoda Adhikari, a senior reporter with PBS Radio Nepal, who was hiding inside a building.
Yashoda’s post for help quickly spread across social media platforms, prompting the Nepalese Army to reach the spot and rescue her along with several colleagues, who were trapped inside.
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While speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Yashoda shared her harrowing ordeal, saying, “There was fire everywhere, it was dangerous. Our office is just opposite the Prime Minister’s office, so the situation was extremely bad. I will never forget this night.”
According to her, the anti-government protests, led by Nepal’s youth, also referred to as “Gen Z”, turned violent as they resorted to arson and vandalism in various parts of Kathmandu and other regions of the Himalayan nation.
“Since yesterday, there has been a massive movement by the Gen Z groups in Nepal. Hundreds of thousands came out, attacking government residences, offices, ministers, and even the Prime Minister’s office. Radio Nepal is located inside Singha Durbar, which houses 25 ministries, including the Prime Minister’s Office. The protesters set fire to multiple offices, including those of political parties. Our station was right in front of the PM’s office, so the flames spread dangerously close to us,” she said.
The senior reporter said that about 25 journalists work at Radio Nepal, but only three were present on the fateful night.
“We could sense the situation would deteriorate, but we stayed on. It was suffocating—we couldn’t breathe as the smoke spread. We ran from one corner to another to stay safe. This is a government radio, but other media houses and television stations have also been set on fire. No one could even broadcast during the movement. It’s a big problem, and we faced a truly dangerous situation,” she said.
Yashoda recalled how she and her colleagues found themselves trapped, saying, “We were stuck, there was fire everywhere. I posted a message in an international journalist group asking for help. Someone shared it further, and finally, the Nepal Army arrived. Thanks to all of you, we were saved.”
After her rescue, Yashoda expressed gratitude to her fellow journalists, media groups, and Nepal Army, saying that some international media groups played a huge role in helping her. “I will never forget how everyone supported me in such a difficult moment,” she said.
She further said that while protesters clashed aggressively with the police, they did not attack the Army.
“The miscreants were not aggressive with the Army. Now the Army has taken charge of security. I finally reached home safely. It was dangerous today, but I am alive, and happy to be with my children again,” she added.
Nepal Crisis
Nepal is reeling under a serious political crisis after two days of anti-government protests saw attacks on private residences of several high-profile leaders, the headquarters of political parties and even the Parliament.
Nepal’s political landscape was thrown into unprecedented turmoil on Tuesday, as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and President Ram Chandra Poudel resigned in the face of a furious and violent youth-led uprising.
The protests led by students appeared to reflect the growing public anger with the Oli dispensation over a range of issues, including a ban on social media and alleged inaction against corruption.
The unrest reached a boiling point with deadly clashes on September 8, when security forces’ response to the protests resulted in at least 19 fatalities. This sparked even greater outrage among demonstrators, predominantly from the digitally native “Gen Z” demographic.
Though the Nepal government on Monday night revoked its ban on social media, following what has been dubbed as ‘Gen Z’ protests in the neighbouring country, yet the anti-government demonstrations intensified on Tuesday, leading to arson and violence in many cases.
About the Author
Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East…Read More
Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East… Read More
Kathmandu, Nepal
September 09, 2025, 23:29 IST
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