Clashes broke out between GenZ protest groups outside the Nepal Army Headquarters at Jangi Adda in Kathmandu, even as youth-led demonstrators continued efforts to reach a consensus for a leader to lead the Interim Government aimed at restoring stability and peace in the country.

Amid the ongoing Gen-Z protests in Nepal, people from civil society and political parties have come out on the streets to protect democracy and the constitution

Meanwhile, according to Nepal Police Central Spokesperson DIG Vinod Ghimire, out of the 14,307 prisoners who escaped, 1,455 have been re-arrested and sent back to jail. Still 12,852 prisoners are absconding. According to Ghimire, the search for the 573 prisoners who escaped is also going on.

Thirty-one bodies have been brought to Nepal's Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for postmortem amid the ongoing Gen-Z protests. According to the head of the hospital's forensic department, Dr. Gopal Chaudhary, relatives of 25 people have been contacted. The hospital has stated that the names of both, those who have been identified and those who have not been identified, will be given only after the postmortem.

Curfew continues in Nepal's capital Kathmandu. All major roads in the country have been blocked. Only emergency service vehicles and flight passengers are allowed to move.

Nepal's former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has been in talks with Nepal Army Chief since this morning. Meanwhile, Gen Z protestors are still trying to reach a consensus on the final formation of the interim government. Negotiations are ongoing at multiple levels.

Amid the ongoing Gen-Z protests in Nepal, former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, has said that the movement has opened the door for the country to move forward on the path of progress.

In a post on X, he wrote, "I have already mentioned this before as well, the Gen-Z movement and the Maoist party's issues are similar. The Gen-Z movement has opened the door for the country to move forward on the path of progress."

Nepal's army will resume talks on Thursday with "Gen Z" protesters to decide a new interim leader for the Himalayan nation, an army spokesperson said, after angry demonstrations that killed 30 and forced the prime minister to resign.

Soldiers patrolled the quiet streets of Kathmandu, the capital, after its worst protests in years triggered by a social media ban that authorities rolled back after 19 deaths as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to control crowds.

"Initial talks are on and would continue today," Raja Ram Basnet, the spokesperson, told Reuters, referring to the discussions on a new interim leader. "We are trying to normalise the situation slowly."

The deaths from the protests have risen to 30 by Thursday, Nepal's health ministry said, with 1,033 injured.

At least nine pilgrims from Ayodhya who had gone for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra are stranded in Nepal due to widespread protests against alleged corruption, district administration officials said.

Ayodhya District Magistrate Nikhil Tikaram Funde said the pilgrims are safe but requested the Centre to arrange return flights, noting that their stay is far from the border, making travel by road difficult amid the unrest.

"Some merchants came to meet me today who reported that some pilgrims had gone to China for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, and their return had to be via Nepal. But due to the unrest in Nepal, the 9 Pilgrims are in Nepal and are safe as yet," Funde said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"Since their stay is far from the border, the only option for their return is via flight. I will request the government to make arrangements," he added.

Around 12 to 13 inmates were injured after the Nepalese Army fired shots on Thursday morning to stop a mass escape attempt at the Ramechhap District Prison, The Kathmandu Post reported, citing officials.

According to The Kathmandu Post, citing the Chief District Officer of Ramechhap, Shyam Krishna Thapa, the prisoners broke through several internal locks and tried to force open the main gate before security forces intervened with gunfire.

"Around 12 to 13 inmates were injured after the army opened fire as they reached the gate," he said, as quoted by The Kathmandu Post.

Located in ward 8 of Ramechhap Municipality, the prison houses more than 300 inmates. Police confirmed that all prisoners have been subdued and the situation is now under control.

The death toll in the Gen-Z protests has reached 30. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, based on reports collected from various hospitals across the country, the number of deceased has reached 30.

Ministry spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki stated that 6 people died at Civil Hospital, 8 at the National Trauma Centre, 3 at Everest Hospital, 2 at Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital, 1 at Maharajgunj Teaching Hospital, and 3 at Frontline Hospital during treatment. The bodies of those who died in the Kathmandu Valley have been kept at Maharajgunj Teaching Hospital for postmortem.

Similarly, outside the Kathmandu Valley, 2 people died at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, and 5 at Bhari Hospital in Banke, totaling 7 deaths, according to spokesperson Budhathoki. The 5 deceased in Banke were juvenile delinquents at the Regional Prison and Juvenile Correction Home in Naubasta. They were killed during action taken by armed police deployed at the prison and juvenile correction home when inmates attempted to escape.

A British YouTuber has gone viral for unexpectedly documenting the dramatic unrest outside Nepal’s Parliament. Harry, best known for his channel We Hate The Cold, captured rare ground-level scenes from Kathmandu as protests spiraled into chaos. His video has crossed more than 3.8 million views.

Wednesday issued a helpline number for its citizens stuck in Nepal amid the violent protests led by Gen Z, forcing Nepali Prime Minister KP Oli to resign.

In a statement, Ahmedabad District Administration advised the citizens to contact the helpline number 079-27560511 for assistance.

"If any citizens of Ahmedabad district are currently on a trip to Nepal, the district administration has requested their relatives to immediately inform the helpline number," the press release from the Resident Additional Collector stated.

"In addition, if any Indian expatriate citizens residing/stuck in Nepal-Kathmandu are in touch, they are advised to contact the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu on the following helpline numbers. District Disaster Management Center - Ahmedabad:- 079 - 27560511, State Disaster Management Center - Gandhinagar :- 079 - 23251900/902/914. Indian Embassy, Kathmandu - Nepal :- +977 - 980 860 2881, +977 - 981 032 6134", it added.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami asked officials to step up vigilance in areas bordering Nepal. Chairing a high-level meeting with officials through video conferencing on Tuesday night, he told them to keep an eye on the activities of anti-social or mischievous elements in their respective areas by conducting intensive checking.

Three districts of Uttarakhand -- Pithoragarh, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar -- border Nepal.

Dhami also asked them to monitor social media so that timely action can be taken on any kind of rumour, misleading information or provocative content. Police in Uttar Pradesh are also on round-the-clock high alert in all districts bordering Nepal.

Nepal's monarchy ended in 2008 when Gyanendra Shah was forced from power, ending 240 years of royal rule. Some public support for the deposed king has since grown -- in tandem with dissatisfaction with ruling politicians.

But despite the extraordinary speed of political events this month, his return remains unlikely.

"The restoration of the monarchy --  even in a ceremonial role -- would pose major risks of a return to autocratic rule", the Crisis Group analyst Ashish Pradhan told AFP.

Communist party veteran KP Sharma Oli, 73, a four-time prime minister, resigned Tuesday in the face of protests. His whereabouts are unknown.

His former coalition ally, 79-year-old Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress –- a five-time prime minister -- has not been seen since unrest erupted.

Oli had struck a deal with Deuba to share power during the current parliamentary term, but both men have now been swept aside by public fury.

Sushila Karki, 73, a former Supreme Court chief justice, is seen by many as a potential interim leader.

Others with traction among the young are Balendra Shah, 35, a rapper-turned-engineer who won Kathmandu’s mayoral race in 2022.

Also key is Sudan Gurung, in his 30s, a leader of youth rights group Hami Nepal.

Sushila Karki, 73, a former Supreme Court chief justice who many see as a potential interim leader, said talks between parties were critical.

"Experts need to come together to figure out the way forward", Karki told AFP. "The parliament still stands."

Constitutionally, President Ramchandra Paudel, 80, holder of the largely cermonial post, should invite the leader of the largest parliamentary party to form a government. But much of the political old guard has vanished from view.

The Himalayan nation became a federal republic in 2008 after a decade-long civil war ended with a peace deal that integrated former Maoist rebels into government. It last held general elections in 2022.

Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah tweets, "My request to dear Gen-Z and all Nepalis: The country is currently in an unprecedented situation. You are now taking steps towards a golden future. Please do not panic at this time; be patient. Now the country is going to get an interim government, which will hold new elections in the country. The job of this interim government is to hold elections and to give the country a new mandate. I fully support your proposal of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki to lead this interim/electoral government. I would like to sincerely respect your understanding, wisdom, and unity. This shows how mature you are. What I want to say to my friends who are rushing to take over the leadership right now is that the country needs your passion, your thinking, your honesty permanently, not temporarily. There will be elections for that. Please don't rush. Honourable President, To protect the historic revolution brought about by Gen Z, an interim government should be formed and parliament dissolved without delay."