At least 51 people have been killed in a week of violent protests in Nepal, sparked by a government ban on social media platforms and widespread corruption allegations, police said Friday.

Police spokesman Binod Ghimire told reporters that more than 12,500 prisoners took advantage of the unrest to escape custody and remain at large, according to AFP.

The turmoil followed the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on Tuesday, just a day after demonstrations erupted across the country.

Protesters set fire to government buildings, including the presidential palace and parliament in the capital Kathmandu, deepening the political and security crisis gripping the Himalayan nation.