On 10/9, the Tribune India, Times of India, and other Indian news outlets published videos showing people in rescue baskets attached to ropes dangling from helicopters hovering over Kathmandu, Nepal, as angry protesters shouted below. The helicopters flew over the well-known Krishna Bhawan Hotel in Kathmandu as they gained altitude.

Earlier, the Nepalese army announced it had taken over national security to quell the wave of violent protests, arson attacks on government buildings, and assaults on officials. The Nepalese armed forces also deployed helicopters to rescue officials and their families trapped by protesters.

Another video shows six people, including government ministers and their relatives, clinging directly to rescue ropes hanging from military helicopters. According to NDTV, military helicopters transported some ministers and their families to safety.

Protesters also chased and attacked Nepal's Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel. One person jumped and kicked Paudel, causing him to fall against a wall before he escaped to safety.

Nepalese soldiers were later deployed on the streets, setting up checkpoints to prevent further violence. However, protesters still set fire to several buildings in the capital, including the parliament building, government offices, and officials' residences.

For many Nepalese citizens, these scenes showed officials evading public anger amid growing unrest.

Large-scale protests erupted in Nepal on 8/9, with tens of thousands taking to the streets of Kathmandu after the government blocked most social media platforms, including Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram. The government claimed these companies had not registered and complied with government oversight.

Tensions escalated as the marches turned into protests against corruption. Protesters attacked security forces, and police responded with live ammunition, making 8/9 one of the deadliest days in Nepal's history, with 20 people killed and hundreds injured. As the protests spread, Nepalese officials became targets of attacks by extremist groups. Protesters proposed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim prime minister to address the political crisis.

Ngoc Anh (Gulf News, NDTV, AP)