Minister Dr Timilsina Instructs to Bring Disaster-disrupted NTC Services into Operation

Minister for Information and Communications, Dr Bikram Timilsina has instructed the concerned authorities to swiftly bring into operation the Telecommunications Service of Nepal Telecom that were disrupted following floods and landslides.

At a discussion held at the Ministry today with Nepal Telecom’s senior management, including Communications secretary Rajendra Prasad Paudel and Telecom’s managing director Sangita Pahadi (Aryal), Minister Timilsina obtained detailed information about the damage caused to Telecom towers and sites by floods and landslides, disrupted telecommunication services, and recovery progress.

“When communication services are halted, it causes difficulties not only for affected citizens but also for security personnel, government agencies, and other concerned organizations involved in rescue and relief operations,” he noted.

Dr Timilsina also sought information about geographical condition of the affected area, damage to roads and electrical infrastructure, and the work done so far in deploying equipment and technical personnel. He instructed the telecom management to adopt alternative measures and get the service running even in places where electricity supply could not be immediately restored.

During the discussion, Nepal Telecom officials briefed the Minister about the damage caused to various telecom sites due to floods and landslides and the ongoing work for service restoration. The Telecom shared that generators and necessary equipment need to be transported by helicopter to get the service running in places where immediate restoration of electricity supply is not possible.

Necessary personnel have been deployed to resume the blocked services and affected sites are being restored based on a priority. The Telecom also shared work-in-progress to provide services in places where roads are inaccessible and electricity supply is not immediately possible by arranging alternative solutions.

Reactivation of 1,002 sites so far According to Nepal Telecom, electricity supply was disrupted, affecting 1,132 telephone towers due to floods and landslides in various parts of the country between August 24 to 27. So far 1,002 sites among the affected have been reactivated, while 130 sites are still not operational.

To bring the non-operational telephone towers back online quickly, Minister Timilsina instructed to effectively deploy electricity supply, equipment, technical personnel, and transportation arrangements. According to the data provided by Nepal Telecom, currently 24 telephone towers are yet to be operational in Myagdi, 19 in Rolpa, 15 in Manang, 15 in Pyuthan, 13 in Baglung, 11 in Palpa, nine in Gulmi, seven in Arghakhanchi, six in Dang, four in Mustang, and three in Parbat district.

Some telephone towers are still not functional in districts, including Kapilvastu, Nawalparasi, Gorkha, Lamjung, Rupandehi, and Syangja. Technical teams have also been deployed to the remaining sites in the affected districts to restore services, according to Nepal Telecom. (RSS)