Anger among young Nepalese continues to simmer even after the army was deployed across the country to deal with a wave of violent protests. Over the past two days, protesters have set fire to and vandalized several iconic buildings and structures in Nepal, including the five-star Hilton hotel in Kathmandu, believed to be the country's tallest.

Images and drone footage circulated on social media on 10/9 showed flames engulfing one side of the building with thick smoke billowing out. Kathmandu fire officials reported that most of the hotel's infrastructure and property has been destroyed.

The Hilton hotel was considered a landmark building in Kathmandu, reflecting Nepal's ambition to elevate its hospitality industry to international standards. The hotel, which began construction in 2016 and opened in 2024, represented a total investment of 57 million USD. Standing at 64 meters tall, it offered nearly 176 rooms of various categories.

According to Nepalese media, the Hilton hotel in Kathmandu was targeted by protesters on 9/9 due to rumors that the son of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, had recently acquired a majority stake in the hotel.

Large-scale protests erupted in Nepal on 8/9, with tens of thousands of people, mainly Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012), taking to the streets of Kathmandu to express their anger after the Nepalese government blocked most social media platforms. The government claimed these companies had not registered and were not complying with government oversight.

The Hilton hotel in Kathmandu set ablaze. Photo: ANI

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 bloodiest days in Nepal's history, with 20 deaths and hundreds injured.

In addition to the Hilton hotel, protesters also attacked and set fire to government offices, the parliament building, the supreme court, and the homes of politicians. The Ministry of Health and Population headquarters, designed by American architect Louis I. Kahn in 1965, was also vandalized. This building is a destination for architecture students worldwide.

Protesters also set fire to the home of former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, killing his wife, Rabi Laxmi Chitrakar.

Duc Trung (Hindustan Times, Times of India, Kathmandu Post)