Kathmandu: The government has distributed relief funds to the families of 53 people who lost their lives during the Gen-Z protests on September 8 (Bhadra 23) and the subsequent violent clashes on September 9 (Bhadra 24). Each family has received Rs 1.5 million in compensation, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

However, the families of unidentified victims and prisoners who were killed by security forces while attempting to escape from jail have been excluded from the relief program.

Home Ministry Spokesperson Rabindra Acharya said that the Ministry of Finance released Rs 79.5 million for the payments. “Apart from unidentified bodies and deceased inmates, the families of those who died during the incidents of September 8 and 9 have each been provided Rs 1.5 million through the respective district administration offices,” Acharya said.

The Home Ministry stated that the relief was given “at the level of martyr honor” to those who died during the Gen-Z movement. The recipients include individuals killed by police firing, those who died during treatment, and others who lost their lives in the subsequent violence on September 9.

The ministry added that investigations are still underway to identify several charred bodies recovered from fire incidents. “If it is later confirmed that any of those unidentified victims died during the protest, appropriate decisions will be made at that time,” the ministry noted.

According to police data, a total of 76 people were killed in the Gen-Z movement and the violence that followed. Twenty-two people were killed on September 8 in Kathmandu and Sunsari districts, while more deaths occurred later during treatment and in further clashes.

Ten inmates were killed while attempting to flee from prisons, and three police officers also died after being assaulted by protesters. Thirteen unidentifiable bodies were recovered from Bhattabhateni buildings in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, and Itahari after the arson attacks. The identification process for those remains is still ongoing.