Nepal's newly-appointed interim prime minister visited injured protesters in hospital on Saturday as calm returned to the country in the wake of protests that killed at least 51 people and collapsed the government.

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki was named as the Himalayan nation's first woman prime minister on Friday.

From his hospital bed in Kathmandu's Civil Hospital, one injured protester told Karki he hoped the country would improve after the events of last week.

In the capital, Kathmandu, and neighboring Lalitpur and Bhaktapur areas, officials lifted a curfew and told people they could move around freely while markets reopened and traffic returned on the streets.

The massive demonstrations began on Monday over a social media ban and quickly turned violent, with protesters attacking government buildings and police opening fire.

Though the ban was rescinded, unrest continued over broader grievances.

Tens of thousands of protesters attacked and burned the parliament, the presidential residence and businesses.

Karki takes over from Khadga Prasad Oli, who resigned on Tuesday and fled his official residence.

The army took control of the streets that night and negotiations between protesters, the army and the president began over an interim government.

Many of the dead were protesters killed by police fire and some were inmates trying to break out of prisons across the country.

Three police officers were also among the dead, police said.

AP video by Upendra Man Singh