KATHMANDU : Nepal’s anti-graft protests in September, which led to the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, caused more than USD 586 million in economic losses, the government said on Friday. The unrest hit an economy worth about USD 42 billion and marked one of the most disruptive periods in recent decades.
The youth-driven demonstrations and subsequent clashes left 77 people dead and over 2,000 injured. Major public and private infrastructure was destroyed, including the Singha Durbar administrative complex, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Supreme Court, Parliament House, as well as residences and commercial properties linked to political figures.
Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, a former chief justice who assumed office after Oli’s exit, said an official committee estimates reconstruction costs will exceed USD 252 million. A dedicated fund for rebuilding has so far collected less than USD 1 million, leaving a significant gap in required resources.
Chakrabarti Kantha, a senior engineer at the Ministry of Urban Development responsible for restoring key state buildings, said reconstruction has already begun at the Singha Durbar, the president’s residence, the Supreme Court and several ministries. Partially damaged structures have been repaired and reopened.
Work on buildings that were entirely destroyed will begin once detailed designs and assessments are completed. The interim government has scheduled new parliamentary elections for March 5, 2026 as it works to stabilise the country and accelerate recovery efforts.
Nepal's economy faces a daunting recovery after anti-graft protests in September led to significant losses and the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. The unrest resulted in over USD 586 million in damages, with major infrastructure destroyed. Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki is overseeing reconstruction efforts, but funding remains a challenge as the nation prepares for elections in 2026.