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The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has reclaimed more than 208 ropani of the encroached public land.

KMC Mayor Balendra Shah informed about this through a social media post on Thursday that more than 200 ropani of public land, worth Rs 23 billion, that had been encroached upon, has been reclaimed.

Mayor Shah stated that with his taking leadership of KMC, the metropolitan city is working with the aim of returning 1,859 ropani 14 anna of encroached land worth about Rs 200 billion.

The Local Government Operation Act, 2074 has granted full authority to the local government for the protection, management, and recovery of public land and property.

Mayor Shah said that pursuant to the same policy, a campaign has been launched to end the tendency of encroaching, occupying and grabbing public land.

KMC is expediting the works of developing the returned land into open parks, sports fields, skateboard parks, pavilions, green areas and public use spaces to prevent its reoccupation.

The metropolitan city has stated that an implementation committee has been formed with the aim of bringing 1,859 ropani 14 anna of encroached land back into public use, based on the report prepared by the commission chaired by former Secretary Ram Bahadur Rawal, and the committee will start its work from today, to further prioritise the protection of public land.

The GenZ protests of September 8–9 turned out to be among the most violent in Nepal’s history—both from the state authorities and the protesting groups. Never before had 19 peaceful protesters been killed in a single day by state forces, nor had all three organs of the state been set ablaze. The two-day uprising left 72 people dead, including three police personnel. The protests also saw former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his spouse Arzu Rana Deuba, who was also the Minister for Foreign affairs at the time, attacked by an angry mob inside their own residence. Widespread arson, vandalism, and looting targeted major political and business institutions across the country. The uprising toppled Nepal’s constitutionally elected leadership and brought in a new government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, which was formed not under constitutional provisions but under the so-called “doctrine of necessity.” This once-in-a-lifetime protest was also marred by waves of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation both nationally and internationally. Six major examples are as follows:

Social media ban protests

Many international media framed Nepal’s GenZ protests as a backlash against a “social media ban.” However, that was not the case. The two main issues that drove the movement were anger against “Nepo Kids” (children of political elites enjoying privilege at others’ expense) and widespread corruption. TikTok and Discord were the main platforms fueling the movement.

On the first night of the protests, the government lifted its earlier ban on all social media platforms. Even after unbanning 26 platforms that had refused to comply with Nepal’s registration request, protesters continued to use Discord, including for symbolic “voting” to make Karki the world’s first prime minister chosen via social media. Protesters criticized foreign outlets such as The New York Times and BBC for misrepresenting the movement as a reaction to a social media ban. On X (formerly Twitter), users added “Readers Added Context” to several misleading posts to counter this narrative.

Finance minister beaten up

Indian media outlet NDTV picked up unverified social media claims and ran the headline “Nepal Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel Beaten Up By Protesters.” Other outlets, including South Korea’s The Chosun Daily, repeated the story. In reality, Paudel was at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar during the protests and was later relocated safely to Nepal Police Headquarters.

The man who was beaten and mistaken for the minister was actually Lok Bahadur Tandan, a hospital operator and philanthropist. None of the foreign media that ran the story sought verification or cross-checked their claims with credible Nepali outlets.

Ex-PM’s wife burnt alive

Another false report came from The Times of India, which wrote that “Ex-PM Khanal’s wife dies after protesters torched house.” The misinformation was also carried by India’s ANI and the UAE’s Gulf News, and echoed by Indian content creator Dhruv Rathee in his Nepal briefing. In reality, Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, wife of former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, was only injured, not killed. To their credit, some Indian outlets, such as Outlook, later corrected the misinformation.

Oli flees to Dubai via Himalaya Airlines

India’s Aaj Tak aired an unverified report claiming that then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was fleeing to Dubai to escape the unrest. The “breaking news” was echoed by Economic Times, Business Today, and Dainik Jagran, which quoted an unnamed “Nepali air hostess.” Himalaya Airlines publicly denied the report, clarifying that no such flight took place. Despite this, none of the Indian media retracted their stories. In fact, no member of Nepal’s ruling elite fled the country; the resigned Prime Minister remains under protection of the Nepali Army.

32 youths held hostage inside Parliament

Nepali-origin US citizen and Microsoft engineer Tanka Dahal, a popular Nepali-language content creator, spread misinformation claiming he had “heard of 32 youths being held hostage inside Nepal’s parliament.” He posted this on Sept 8, the first day of the Gen-Z protests. Though Nepal Police promptly denied the claim and conducted fact-checks, many social media users refused to believe them, further inflaming public anger toward the government and police.

80 kg gold found in mayor’s home

Nepali-American content creator Sujan Dhakal and controversial Nepali YouTuber Bhagya Neupane claimed that protesters had discovered 80 kilograms of gold and two sacks of silver in the home of Jhapa Mayor Rajendra Kumar Pokharel. The allegation turned out to be false, yet millions believed it online. Mayor Pokharel later remarked sarcastically, “How could that much gold be at my house? I urge Bhagya Neupane to return the gold needed for my children’s marriage and take all the remaining.”

The author is Kathmandu-based Nepali journalist writing mainly on tourism, diplomacy and the environment

A total of one hundred tuberculosis cases have been confirmed in Okhaldhunga.

Data from the District Health Office indicates that these cases have been recorded from the fiscal year 2081/82 BS to the current fiscal year 2082/83 BS.

Bibek Pokharel, Information Officer at the office, reported that during the fiscal year 2081/82, there were 65 male and 30 female cases of tuberculosis. He also mentioned that in the current fiscal year, three men and two women have tested positive for the infection.

Last fiscal year, Siddhicharan Municipality reported the highest number of tuberculosis cases, totaling 40.

According to Information Officer Pokharel, infections were also confirmed in one individual from Chishkhugadhi Rural Municipality, 15 from Sunkoshi Rural Municipality, 14 from Khijidemba, 13 from Manebhanjyang, six from Champadevi, four from Likhu, and two from Molung Rural Municipality.

From reels to viral campaigns, GenZ navigates the digital sphere with purpose. Their online presence reflects how technology is redefining youth engagement. A study published in the International Journal of Novel Research titled ‘Role of Social Media in Inculcating Life Skills Amongst GenZ’ shows that GenZ recognizes and accepts the effect of social media in developing essential life skills.

The study also finds that social media has become an integral part of GenZ’s life, shaping personal lives and interpersonal relationships. Reflecting this influence on daily life, 19-year-old Biswas Giri (name changed) shares how these platforms have expanded his thoughts on different topics. He also highlights his preference for the short form of video over long-form, adding, “Visually rich content captures my attention without being overwhelmed by the long texts”.

Giri also acknowledges social media influence on purchasing decisions from clothes to books, stressing the power of online communities and the role of content creators in shaping opinions. 

According to a 2025 study published in the European Journal of Teaching and Education, YouTube provides a platform for many to learn a diverse range of content, from motivational talks to self-help tutorials. The study notes that users can connect in a techno-driven world by asking queries and engaging in discussions.  

Underscoring its necessity, 18-year-old Sabina Karki from Kathmandu says YouTube has become a fundamental tool for her studies. A 12th grader, Karki, explains, “YouTube is my most used platform to gain knowledge, as  many channels teach online, which makes it easier for me to grasp the idea quickly.”

Beyond education, social media also enables global communication, making it easy to access information worldwide. Recalling the power of digital connectivity, 27-year-old Krish Acharya mentions the #MeToo movement, which sparked momentum online. “This sort of campaign on social media aims to bring systematic change and drive structural reform,” he asserts.

Social media’s role in business is equally significant. According to the National Business Association, promoting business on the internet boosts brand awareness and expands reach among a wide range of audiences. 26-year-old Sangeeta Thapa, who runs an accessories business in Kathmandu, shares that she promotes business using social media sites. Thapa adds, “I try to create appealing content that will attract customers.” For Thapa, social media is essential for shaping public opinions, and without using it, she says, reaching a broader audience would be nearly impossible. 

Twenty-five-year-old Bibek Adhikari utilizes a digital platform to stay informed about current affairs. “Exploring the content across the internet helps me refine my idea,” he says, while warning about misinformation. “Many youths are trying to get information from the internet, but it is significant to verify the source, as many are misled by false content”. 

As an example, Adhikari shares the knowledge gap among internet users in his village, Sindhupalchowk. “Many youth cannot identify credible media content, which makes it difficult for them to stay aware of the various messages they encounter,” he adds.

Recognizing Nepal’s rapidly changing digital landscape, it becomes vital to ensure that everyone develops awareness and literacy to navigate it responsibly. 

According to DataReportal’s findings, there were 14.3m active social media user identities in Nepal in Jan 2025. Within this number, GenZ also stands at the front of the digital wave, shaping online interactions and trends. 

“When the youth started to speak against the stagnant system and corruption in Nepal back in September, social media played a revolutionary role,” says Smriti Dhakal. She emphasizes the collective interest of all Nepalese to fight against the system. She claims that digital platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, contributed significantly to shaping the voice of youth. 

While digital sites provide vast access to information, social media algorithms can also affect understanding by controlling what users see online. “Digital content gives me a sense of escapism, letting me explore different perspectives,” says Shikshya Gurung. 

She adds that online content also shapes her way of living and gives her ideas about the eating culture. Gurung adds, “With content creators giving ideas about cafes and food, it makes it easier to discover new places to spend time”. 

A report published by the Pew Research Center, ‘The Future of Well-Being in a Tech-Saturated World,’ quotes Tiziana Dearing, a professor at the Boston College School of Social Work, stating that digital technology can negatively affect well-being if social empathy and inherent bias are ignored. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of what content GenZ consumes.

GenZ engagement with social media shows diverse ways in which individuals navigate the digital landscape. While some use it for staying updated on current affairs, others use it for learning, self-expression, and entertainment, reflecting the multifaceted nature of this generation’s online presence.