Power supply obstructed in flood-hit Tarai region

Kathmandu, July 13

Supply of electricity has been obstructed in the Tarai region as floods have destroyed various infrastructure used in power supply. Some places of the region have been in total darkness since last night.

Nepal Electricity Authority said many of its sub-stations have been flooded and poles along transmission lines have collapsed in some places.

Kul Man Ghising, managing director of NEA, informed that most of the districts in Province 2 have been affected due to fresh floods and some areas are in darkness.

“As of this evening, four towers have been partially destroyed and some of the transmission lines have been directly affected,” he said, adding that the operation of Gaur sub-station in Rautahat had been completely halted.

Similarly, the sub-station in Duhabi has also been partially halted, but the water level in the area is subsiding, so the power utility will be able to resume full service in Duhabi area probably from tomorrow.

According to NEA, a few places in Siraha, Saptari, Sarlahi, Sunsari, Dhanusha, Morang and Jhapa, among other districts, have been affected and are not receiving regular power supply.

Due to floods in the Tarai region, most of the industrial corridors are closed and power load across the country is also down to 600 megawatts. In normal times, the demand of electricity in the country stands at 1,300 megawatts.

Ghising further informed that most of the power that is imported from India has now been halted.

Even after the water level subsides, the sub-stations that have been inundated will not be able to supply power immediately as the submerged equipment have to be checked after retrieving them from the water, according to Ghising.

He further said that technical teams of the NEA have already been mobilised in flood-affected areas so as to resume the supply of electricity as soon as possible.

Though floods have affected life in some parts of western Tarai as well, the electricity supply has not been obstructed there, he informed.

The power utility has yet to assess the damage caused by floods and the exact losses it has incurred.