Bulldozer Operations and Eviction of Squatters from Riverbank Settlements (Photos/Videos)

Bulldozers have been deployed since Saturday morning to demolish unauthorized settlements along Kathmandu’s main riverbanks. A joint task force comprising Nepal Police, Armed Police, and Municipal Police has intensified efforts to clear these squatter communities. The government has also established a holding center at Dashrath Rangashala to identify and process affected squatters. Kathmandu, 12 Baishakh.

Since early Saturday, bulldozer activity continues around Kathmandu’s principal riverbank areas. Following a prior government notification, residents were instructed to vacate their settlements by 7 PM Friday. In line with this directive, the combined security forces are actively clearing the settlements. Several makeshift structures in the Thapathali area have already been demolished, while bulldozers have operated in Sinamangal and Gairigaun during the afternoon hours.

Scenes from the squatter areas undergoing demolition have been emotionally charged. Notably, an image circulated widely on social media shows a mother in Thapathali placing her child on the roadside, putting him to sleep amidst the chaos, which has sparked calls for better management and care. In Gairigaun, residents hurriedly moved their belongings as bulldozers operated nearby, with security agencies providing additional assistance. The sounds of the bulldozers are accompanied by scenes of people loading belongings onto vehicles and dispersing. Meanwhile, the government’s efforts to verify genuine squatters continue at the Dashrath Rangashala holding center.