Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Kathmandu on Monday to express their dissatisfaction with the authorities' decision to block a large number of social media platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube.

According to authorities, these media companies are not registered and do not submit to government supervision.

Protesters surrounded the parliament building, pushed through barbed wire and forced the police to retreat.

The police used tear gas and water cannons, but were forced to seek refuge in the parliament complex due to the overwhelming force of the protesters.

Eventually, the police opened fire on the protesters.

As tensions persisted, the government on Monday declared a curfew around parliament, the government secretariat, the presidential palace and key areas of the city.

Monday's action is being called the"Generation Z" demonstration. This is the name given to people born between 1995 and 2010.

About two dozen social media platforms widely used in Nepal have received notices demanding that they officially register their businesses, the government said.