A five-star Hilton hotel in Kathmandu, once the tallest building in Nepal’s capital, has been gutted after protesters set it ablaze amid ongoing anti-government demonstrations. The luxury property, which only opened in July 2024 at a cost of around S$116 million, now stands as a charred ruin.
Images and footage circulating online showed the iconic skyscraper reduced to blackened remains, with smoke still rising from its structure. The building had been touted as a modern engineering feat, equipped with earthquake-resistant technology to withstand seismic risks in the Himalayan nation.
According to Nepali reports, the hotel was allegedly linked to the son of Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba, though previous statements had denied such claims. Nearby establishments were also damaged during the blaze.
Unrest Tied to “Gen Z Protests”
The attack on the Hilton is part of what has been dubbed the “Gen Z protests”, a wave of youth-driven demonstrations that have seen multiple landmarks destroyed. Protesters have already torched government buildings, including Parliament and the Supreme Court, as well as the private residences of high-profile politicians.
Among the most shocking incidents was the burning of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli’s residence, where his wife tragically died during the fire. The home of ex-prime minister Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar was also targeted.
The unrest was initially triggered by the government’s attempt to enforce a sweeping social media ban on 4 September, covering 26 platforms such as Facebook and YouTube. Although the ban was quickly retracted following public backlash, the protests escalated into broader demonstrations against corruption, inequality, and high youth unemployment.
Worsening Crisis Amid Power Vacuum
Nepal has been struggling with one of the region’s highest youth unemployment rates, standing at 20.8 per cent in 2024, according to World Bank data. Students and young professionals have been at the forefront of the movement, carrying placards with slogans like “Shut down corruption, not social media”.
Authorities have confirmed at least 30 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries since the protests began. Demonstrators have also looted businesses, prompting accusations that opportunists have hijacked the youth-led movement.
The resignations of KP Sharma Oli and several ministers have left Nepal in a political vacuum, with no clear leadership in place. Unlike past uprisings, these protests have no central figure or organisation, instead spreading through spontaneous online callouts.
For now, the burned-out Hilton stands as a symbol of the growing anger that has swept through the country’s younger generation, who see the destruction of luxury projects as a strike against inequality and entrenched political elites.