Ex-Nepal First Lady Survives Attack, Recovering From Burns After Death Rumours

Last Updated:September 10, 2025, 22:08 IST

Rabi Laxmi Chitrakar, Nepal’s former first lady and wife to Jhalanath Khanal, Nepal’s former PM, was erroneously reported dead by several news outlets.

Nepal's former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal (R) and his wife Rabi Laxmi Chitrakar Khanal (L) faced attacks from protesters. Rabi Laxmi was rumoured dead but is alive and recovering from injuries. (IMAGE: AFP)

Nepal’s former first lady Rabi Laxmi Chitrakar, wife of CPN (S) leader and former Jhalanath Khanal is reportedly alive after rumours spread that she died after sustaining burn injuries.

Former party leader and former minister Jeevan Ram Shrestha told the NepalPress that the rumours of her death are untrue.

Nepal’s former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal pictured next to his wife Rabi Laxmi Chitrakar Khanal who was rumoured to be dead.

The NepalPress report said that a section of the Gen Z agitators had set ablaze Jhalanath’s house in Dallu. When the attack happened, the former PM was outside, but his wife was home. She sustained severe burn injuries as she could not escape on time.

Shrestha told the news outlet that the doctors have said she is now out of danger and that she is in a position to speak.

He further added that she was at home with her son, Nirbhik Khanal, when the protestors started the fire. She was first taken to Nepali Army Hospital in Chhauni where she was treated at the Intensive Care Unit and later transferred to the Kirtipur Hospital for further treatment.

Soldiers guarded Nepal’s parliament and patrolled deserted streets on Wednesday with the capital Kathmandu under a curfew, after two days of deadly anti-corruption protests forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign.

The upheaval in the poor Himalayan nation was unleashed by a social media ban that was announced last week, but was rolled back after 19 people were killed on Monday as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to control crowds.

The death toll from the protests had risen to 25 by Wednesday, Nepal’s health ministry said, while 633 were injured.

Nepal’s army said that relevant parties were coordinating to tackle the situation after the protests and resolve the issue. Media also said preparations were being made for authorities and protesters to hold talks, without giving details. Reuters could not independently confirm the information.

Most of the protesters were young people voicing frustration at the government’s perceived failure to fight corruption and boost economic opportunities, leading to the demonstrations being dubbed the “Gen Z protests".

The young agitators want former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the interim prime minister, said Raman Kumar Karna, the secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association, who was consulted by the protesters.

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