10 Gen Z protest victims cremated with national honors

KATHMANDU: Ten people who lost their lives during the Gen Z protest were cremated with national honors on Tuesday.

Bodies of nine of the deceased were at TU Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu and one at Patan Hospital in Laltipur.

Among those cremated with national honors at Pashupati Aryaghat crematorium were Rasik Khatiwada, Gaurav Joshi, Dipesh Sunuwar and Binod Maharjan. A team from the Armed Police Force offered a ceremonial salute, while Energy Minister Kulman Ghising and Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal draped the national flag over the bodies to pay respect. Before the cremation, funeral processions were carried out from the TU Teaching Hospital to the crematorium.

Meanwhile, the bodies of six victims — Santosh Bishwakarma, Pravin Kulung, Sara Kumar Rai, Chhatra Man Kuthumi, Sajan Rai and Bijay Chaudhary — were transported by helicopter to their respective home districts for final rites.

The government has announced that all those who died during the protests would be declared martyrs and cremated with national honors.

A cabinet meeting held on Monday also decided to provide the families of the deceased with Rs 1 million as compensation and an additional Rs 500,000 for other expenses. It also decided to observe a day of mourning on Wednesday.

A total of 73 people lost their lives during the protest.