8th September 2025, Kathmandu
A somber atmosphere has descended upon the Trauma Center in Kathmandu as a large crowd of grieving relatives has gathered outside, desperate for information about their loved ones.
Kathmandu Trauma Center
The hospital has become the focal point of a national tragedy following a violent police crackdown on a protest led by Gen Z youths.
The protests, which took place on Monday, were a response to a controversial social media ban and widespread public dissatisfaction with the current governing system.
The scale of the incident has been revealed as the hospital administration confirmed that seven individuals were declared dead upon arrival.
The number of injured has exceeded 250 across various hospitals, with 55 of the most severely wounded undergoing treatment at the Trauma Center.
The hospital administration, in a move to provide clarity and ease the anxiety of the waiting crowd, has posted a list of the deceased and injured at the main gate.
The names of the deceased, a heartbreaking list that includes young students and citizens, paints a grim picture of the day’s events. The confirmed deaths at the Trauma Center are:
- Shriram Chaulagain (19), a student at Global College.
- Sulav Raj Shrestha (21), from Banke.
- Buddhi Tamang (42), from Kirtipur.
- Four additional unnamed male victims, with estimated ages ranging from 27 to 30.
The loss of these young lives has sent a wave of shock and anger through the nation. The incident has intensified the debate over the excessive use of force by police against peaceful demonstrators.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos and panic as police reportedly used live ammunition and other forms of force to disperse the crowd of Gen Z youths who were protesting against what they see as an authoritarian system.
The government’s decision to implement a social media ban, a move widely criticized as a violation of free speech, was a key catalyst for the protest.
The list of those injured and currently receiving treatment at the Trauma Center includes a mix of students, young professionals, and even police personnel, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence. The names released by the hospital are:
- Nikesh Rizal (23), from Bardiya.
- Hari Adhikari (26), from Jumla.
- Pawan Khadka (21), from Maharajgunj.
- Surya Rai, from Sindhupalchok.
- Saurabh Kathayat (19), from Dhangadhi.
- Hari Adhikari (17), from Jumla.
- Sandesh Pradhan (27), from Nawalparasi.
- Ashutosh Basnet (19), from Itahari.
- Saurabh Gautam (20), from Bhojpur.
- Roshan Regmi (18), from Gorkha.
- Rupesh Karki (27), from Bhaktapur.
- Hari Bahadur Shahi, Police Sergeant, from Jajarkot.
- Kumar Larma, Police Sergeant, from Dolakha.
- Prakash Bohora (29), from Dailekh.
- Harihar Silwal (52), from Mainpi, Kathmandu.
- Netra Bikram Thapa (30), from Parsa.
- Dilip Kumar Bhujel (26), from Gaighat, Udaypur.
- Navin Tamang (22), from Sindhuli.
- Madan Karki (22), from Sindhuli.
- Asbin Rai (22), from Khotang.
- Anil Tamang (19), from Dolakha.
- Mukesh Awasthi (22), from Dadeldhura.
- Janti Singh Thakuri (21), from Kanchanpur.
- Rajendra Saud (25), from Achham.
- Norbu Tamang (17), from Sindhupalchok.
- Nik Magar (33), from Kirtipur.
- Pawan Shahi (26), from Kalikot.
- Lija Adhikari (20), from Morang.
- Samir Lama (22), from Hetauda.
- Prakash Dhami (27), from Kailali.
- Sahil Ahmad (20), from Chandragiri, Kathmandu.
- Kapil Shrestha (30), from Kathmandu.
- Bijay Adhikari (22), from Rukum.
- Rupesh Karki (27), from Dolakha.
- Suhani Shrestha (19), from Bardiya.
- Abik Tandukar (22), from Kathmandu.
- Abhishek Bhandari (17), from Bajhang.
- Aiman Magar (23), from Dharan.
- Sagar Bhattarai (21), from Jhapa.
- Sandesh Pradhan (20), from Nawalparasi.
- Som Sharma (30), from Baglung.
- Ishwor Dhakal (20), from Kapurdhara.
- Sitesh Jung Pariyar (22), from Kathmandu.
- Samu Dhakal (37), from Kathmandu.
- Lusan Subba (21), from Jhapa.
- Nabin Shrestha (19), from Sankhuwasabha.
- Sahil Ahmad (20), from Kathmandu.
- Keshav Adhikari (32).
- Ashutosh Jha (20), from Kathmandu.
- Roshan Parajuli (26), from Kavre.
This extensive list underscores the widespread impact of the crackdown, with victims hailing from various parts of Nepal. The presence of police sergeants on the injured list also suggests that the confrontation was highly volatile.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media and amongst political groups, who are demanding an independent investigation into the police’s actions.
Human rights organizations have also condemned the violence, calling for accountability for the deaths and injuries. The future of the social media ban and the response to the youth movement now hangs in the balance, with public sentiment rapidly turning against the government.
The victims’ families and friends, united in their grief, are demanding justice and a guarantee that such an event will never happen again. The Trauma Center, a place of healing, has tragically become a symbol of the nation’s profound pain and political unrest.
For more: Kathmandu Trauma Center