KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 9
Supply of electricity has been obstructed in several parts of Lumbini Province as landslides and floods due to incessant downpour since the past few days have destroyed various infrastructure used in power supply.
Power transmission lines, utility poles, transformers and other structures have collapsed mainly in Rupandehi, Arghakhanchi, Dang and other districts of Lumbini Province, informed Nabaraj Ojha, director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Regional Office, Butwal.
A tower of Lamhi-Ghorahi 132 kV transmission line in Dang collapsed due to a landslide that occurred due to incessant rain.
"The landslide on Friday has damaged the tower number 18 at Beldamar, Lamhi Municipality-6, under the Lamhi-Ghorahi 132 kV transmission line," Ojha said, adding , "Thus, the power supply to Dang, Salayan, Rukum, and parts of Rolpa have been disrupted. Alternative arrangements have been made to provide electricity to the households in the areas."
The authority has provided partial power supply to the households of Lamhi, Ghorahi and other areas through a 33 kV transmission line from Hapure substation.
"Several power guzzling cement industries are operating in that area. Hence, the energy demand won't be fully met unless Lamhi-Ghorahi 132 kV transmission line is fully operational again."
Following the collapse of the tower of Lamhi-Ghorahi 132 kV transmission line, the authority will connect the tower under Emergency Restoration System (ERS) to supply power.
"A team has been dispatched to survey the connection of the ERS tower. It will take a few days to instal the tower due to the challenging topography."
Meanwhile, some places of the Lumbini Province have been completely cut off from power supply since Friday.
Ojha informed that apart from the headquarters of Gulmi and Arghakhanchi, other parts of these two districts have been in total darkness as the pole of the Sandhikharka-Birbas 33 kV distribution line was swept away by the floods.
Likewise, the Rapti-Sonari Rural Municipality and Naryanapur Rural Municipality of Banke have also suffered total power outage as the floods have destroyed various infrastructure of the 11 kV Naryanapur line.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 10, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
