KATHMANDU: Demonstrators stormed the Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu on Tuesday, escalating the wave of unrest sweeping across the capital.

According to eyewitnesses, protesters first hurled stones at the hotel’s glass facade before forcing their way through the main gate.

Police attempted to disperse the crowd, but struggled to contain the sheer number of demonstrators. “The mob was momentarily scattered, but they regrouped quickly,” a local resident told reporters.

Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the hotel grounds, though it remains unclear whether the fire originated inside the building or in the courtyard.

Hundreds of protesters are still believed to be inside the premises.