The blaze, which erupted during Gen-Z protests, razed over 20 ministries, the Parliament building, the Supreme Court, the Anti-Corruption Court, and more than 300 federal, provincial, and local government offices to ashes, destroying vital records from birth certificates and land registries to international agreements and company filings.

Karki, the country’s first woman prime minister, assessed the damage personally. She reported that “all the institutions and documents that run the country have been destroyed” and vowed, “We are in a zero situation. But we will rise again.” The loss of more than 60,000 Supreme Court files has deepened the administrative crisis, leaving judges salvaging charred remnants under makeshift tents.

Common citizens are similarly stranded. Rajendra Shrestha of Kathmandu lamented that his motorcycle registration and land deed went up in flames, leaving him without proof of ownership. Police stations across the Kathmandu Valley 112 in total were leveled, forcing officers to operate from tents while the public struggles to secure passports, pensions, and banking services.

In the aftermath, Nepal’s ousted ex-PM KP Sharma Oli left army protection after nine days and relocated to a private residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur district, following his evacuation by helicopter amid the unrest. Meanwhile, Karki held her first call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who extended condolences for the lives lost and pledged India’s full support in restoring stability, reaffirming the two nations’ close ties.

As Nepal confronts the enormous task of rebuilding its governance framework, the interim government prioritizes restoring elections, ensuring accountable governance, and reconstructing critical infrastructure determined to turn this “zero state” into a foundation for renewal.