Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, the wife of former Nepali Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, died on Tuesday after protesters set their home ablaze in the Dallu area of Kathmandu, according to family sources cited by Nepali outlet Khabar Hub. The tragic incident occurred amid escalating nationwide protests targeting government buildings, politicians’ residences, and political party offices.
According to the report, a mob trapped Chitrakar inside the residence before setting it on fire. She was rushed to Kirtipur Burn Hospital in critical condition but succumbed to her injuries during treatment. There has been no official confirmation of her death, and the report remains unverified by independent sources.
The protests, which have plunged Nepal into turmoil, saw mobs torching iconic landmarks, including Singha Durbar, the seat of the Nepali government, and Sheetal Niwas, the presidential residence.
The private homes of President Ram Chandra Paudel, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Sher Bahadur Deuba were also set ablaze. In the attack on Deuba’s residence, both he and his wife, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, were reportedly assaulted.
The wave of violence has intensified public unrest, with demonstrators targeting symbols of political authority across the capital. The protests, initially sparked by a now-lifted social media ban, have expanded into broader grievances against alleged corruption and governance failures.
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