As many as 196 people injured in last week’s Gen Z protests have been receiving care at 32 hospitals across the country.

According to the latest count, at least 74 people have been confirmed dead and over 1,800 injured in the protest launched by youths against rampant corruption and social media ban.

Data provided by the health emergency operation centre (HEOC), operated by the Ministry of Health and Population show that 28 injured Gen Z protesters are still undergoing treatment at the National Trauma Centre, the government-run tertiary trauma referral hospital in Kathmandu.

“The condition of one injured protester is still critical, as he has serious head injury from a gunshot,” said Dr Badri Rijal, medical superintendent at the hospital. “Others are stable, and most have undergone multiple surgeries.”

Doctors at the hospital said that injured protesters, who have already undergone surgeries have not yet been discharged, as they need follow up and regular dressing of the wounds.

“Most patients, who are still in the hospital are those with fractured bones and need dressing of wounds,” said Rijal.

Likewise, Nepal Police Hospital has been providing care to 18 injured people, mostly police officials. Similarly, the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital at Maharajgunj, the Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital at Sinamagal, and the Birtamod-based B & C Hospital have been providing treatment to 17 injured each.

Patan Academy of Health Sciences, which is treating four injured patients, said all are out of danger.

“All injured protesters have been recuperating and are out of danger,” said Dr Samita Panta Acharya, medical director at Patan Hospital.

The New Baneshwar-based Civil Service Hospital, which handled hundreds of injured protesters on September 8 and 9, said only three injured patients remain.

“We have sent patients home and advised regular wound dressing to avoid the risk of hospital-acquired infection,” said Dr Mohan Regmi, director at the hospital. “Recovery will be quicker at home.”

The health ministry’s data show that Chitwan Medical College is providing treatment to eight patients, followed by Gandaki Medical College (Pokhara), Bir Hospital, and Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital 7 each. The Frontline Hospital (Old Baneshwar), Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital (Biratnagar), B&B Hospital (Gwarko), and Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences (Pokhara) are treating six patients each.

Meanwhile, the health ministry said that hospitals have been providing free care to injured protesters as per the instruction of the government.

“We have been coordinating with hospitals providing treatment to people injured in last week’s protest,” said Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari, joint spokesperson at the Health Ministry. “The government will reimburse treatment fees.”

Even the health ministry’s building had faced the wrath of protesters. Health ministry officials say they have made temporary arrangements at a small building of the Nepal Health Research Council and resumed work.

Last week’s protests were the most violent in Nepal’s history, when key government institutions including the federal parliament, the central secretariat at Singha Durbar that houses several ministries, the Supreme Court, and dozens of police offices and stations were torched or vandalised in Kathmandu. Big businesses, including Bhatbhateni supermarkets, and several banks, and politicians’ private residences also came under attack, while government offices and police stations in many districts were also vandalised or torched.