Nepal’s main government building set ablaze (VIDEO)

The Singha Durbar Palace in central Kathmandu houses several ministries and administrative offices

A massive blaze has engulfed Nepal’s Singha Durbar Palace in central Kathmandu, the country’s main administrative complex, after violent protests swept the Himalayan nation’s capital.

Footage circulating online shows the building being consumed by flames. The palace, built in 1908, serves as the seat of Nepal’s government, hosting several ministries, and other key institutions.

The demonstrations, led mainly by people in their late teens and early 20s, erupted on Monday after authorities banned major social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X. The protests turned violent, with dozens confirmed dead in Kathmandu and about 500 injured, including more than 100 police officers.

On Tuesday, demonstrators reportedly broke through the western gates of the Singha Durbar, forcing their way into the restricted area and setting parts of the entrance on fire. Witnesses reported heavy clashes with security forces as the crowd advanced inside, according to several media outlets.

Other footage shared online showed Nepal’s parliament building also ablaze, with charred walls, smoke billowing into the sky, and fires still burning as large crowds gathered outside.