Video: Nepal ministers, family flee clinging to rope on helicopter as protests escalate

Dramatic visuals have surfaced showing top government officials and their families being airlifted from rooftops in Kathmandu.

In one striking video, ministers are seen clinging to a sling beneath an army helicopter, fleeing violent mobs as plumes of smoke rise from the city below.

Violent protests erupted on Monday across Nepal following a brief government-imposed ban on major social media platforms, leading to the resignation and reported escape of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The government’s move to restrict platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube ignited widespread unrest, primarily led by angry youth in the capital.

Soldiers have been deployed throughout the capital, enforcing stay-at-home orders in a desperate attempt to restore order after days of escalating chaos. Protesters, many from Generation Z, have vandalised the homes of high-ranking officials and even set fire to the country’s Parliament building.

Among the targets were the residence of Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, which was torched.

The homes of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Biswo Paudel and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, all of which were attacked with stones and fire.

Foreign Affairs Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and her husband, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, were also assaulted. A video shows Deuba bleeding and sitting on the ground before being rescued by authorities.

In another part of the capital, violent prisoners set fire to jail buildings and attempted to escape. However, the army was able to block the jailbreak and transfer inmates to other facilities.

What began as a protest against internet censorship quickly spiraled into a broader uprising, reflecting deep public frustration with government corruption, inequality, and unemployment. Many young Nepalis expressed anger over the privileges enjoyed by the children of politicians, often referred to as “nepo kids, who live in luxury while youth unemployment remains high.

According to the World Bank, roughly 20 per cent of Nepal’s youth were unemployed last year. The government estimates that over 2,000 young people leave the country daily to find work in the other countries, especially Middle East and India.

As of now, the military continues to hold control in key areas of Kathmandu, but the nation remains on edge.