As the Nepali calendar ushers in the New Year 2082, the year 2081 leaves behind a trail of unforgettable events. It was anything but ordinary, marked by a series of natural disasters, political upheavals, historic accomplishments and emotional moments of national pride and loss.
Nepal faced severe natural calamities throughout 2081. Torrential rains triggered deadly floods and landslides across the country, causing widespread destruction and loss of life and property.
On Asar 28, a landslide at Simaltal on the Narayangadh–Muglin road in Chitwan swept away two buses into the Trishuli River—both still missing. A tragic air crash near Tribhuvan International Airport on Shrawan 9 claimed 18 lives when a Shree Airlines flight went down. Just weeks later, on Shrawan 24, an Air Dynasty helicopter en route to Syaphrubesi from Kathmandu crashed in Nuwakot, killing all five onboard. On Asoj 11, a landslide in Dhading’s Jhyaaplekhola buried 35 people.
Even high-profile events came with disasters. At the launch of Visit Pokhara 2025, a balloon explosion injured Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel and Pokhara’s Mayor Dhanraj Acharya. Similarly, a tragic bus accident in Aabukhaireni along the Prithvi Highway claimed 27 Indian tourists and injured 16 others, drawing attention from India’s Youth and Sports Minister Raksha Khadse, who visited the injured in Kathmandu.
Despite these hardships, 2081 also gifted Nepal moments of pride. Para-athlete Palesha Goverdhan made history by winning Nepal’s first-ever medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Renowned climber Kami Rita Sherpa set a new world record by summiting Sagarmatha for the 30th time. Young climber Dawa Yangzum became the youngest Nepali woman to summit all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, while Nima Rinji Sherpa, at just 18, achieved the same rare feat. Legendary climbers Nirmal Purja and Mingma G Sherpa also broke records by completing all 14 peaks without supplemental oxygen, with Shishapangma being the final one.
Photojournalist Purnima Shrestha became the first woman in history to summit Sagarmatha three times in a single spring season, adding to her record as the first Nepali woman to climb Dhaulagiri.
Meanwhile, Nepal hosted its first Nepali Premier League (NPL), which drew regional attention and boosted Nepal’s cricket profile internationally.
On the political front, 2081 saw significant turbulence. The third Investment Summit was held, securing Rs 65bn in domestic and foreign investment commitments. Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal inaugurated the Nagdhunga–Sisnekhola Tunnel breakthrough on Baisakh 3, and the historic Dharahara Tower was reopened to the public on Asoj 3.
However, controversy erupted after the dismissal of Kulman Ghising as managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority. Protests and parliamentary obstruction followed. He was succeeded by Hitendra Dev Shakya. Meanwhile, Deepak Thapa was appointed the 31st chief of Nepal Police.
There were also high-profile arrests: Kailash Sirohiya, chairperson of Kantipur Media Group, was arrested on Jestha 8. Rabi Lamichhane, leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, was arrested in Kartik in connection with a cooperative fraud case.
Businessperson Durga Prasai was also arrested in relation to the Tinkune incident.
The year saw a series of notable diplomatic visits. Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck visited Nepal in Mangsir. Earlier in the year, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani made official visits. At the invitation of Nepali Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, India’s Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi toured Nepal, where President Ramchandra Paudel conferred upon him the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army.
Perhaps the most significant political shift came with the formation of a new coalition between the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, resulting in KP Sharma Oli being sworn in as Prime Minister for the fourth time on Asar 31.
