KATHMANDU, Oct 6: Questions are swirling over why Nepal’s historical and political heritage could not be protected during the Gen Z movement. Iconic sites such as Singha Durbar, the Parliament building, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, and the Supreme Court, all located within the Kathmandu Valley, were engulfed in flames — even as fire trucks stood ready on-site, drawing widespread criticism.
The blaze destroyed buildings and irreplaceable documents, set by individuals with criminal intent in the name of the movement. Shockingly, a fire truck stationed inside Singha Durbar, within the Nepali Army’s Narsingh Battalion, could not be deployed. Authorities have yet to provide a clear explanation. According to one senior army source, the truck could not operate because people were allegedly sleeping beneath it — a claim disputed by others, who insist protesters had not entered that part of the premises.
Helipad to be constructed inside Singha Durbar
Around 4 PM on September 9, Lalitpur Metropolitan City dispatched a fire truck to battle the flames, followed by another from the Army headquarters at 4:30 PM. “No one is ready to answer why the army’s fire truck could not be used during the emergency. If it had been, the damage could have been reduced,” said an official from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
By midnight, Kathmandu Metropolitan City sent its fire truck, but it reportedly remained unused, citing a lack of drivers. Meanwhile, the combined efforts of Lalitpur and Army fire trucks had already poured water over 10 times, eventually reaching more than 45 water-dispensing operations by the following afternoon. Fire officials claim that a single truck can carry 4,000 liters of water, enough to last 10–15 minutes per operation.
The protesters had poured petrol and set fires inside Singha Durbar, using sacks inside plastic dividers to intensify the blaze. Security personnel initially retreated as flames spread, leaving Nepal’s political and administrative center in ruins. By the time the army regained control later that night and fully deployed the fire truck, government institutions, including the Supreme Court, had already been reduced to ashes.
