KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has cancelled his scheduled visit to South Korea.
He decided to call off the trip to prioritize rescue, relief and power restoration efforts following natural disasters across the country.
The ministry stated that the decision was taken to focus on coordinating search and rescue operations, as a significant number of people remain missing due to floods in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river basins.
The floods have caused extensive damage to energy infrastructure. The ministry is currently focused on restoring damaged structures, ensuring regular power supply, and facilitating support for private energy entrepreneurs affected by the disaster. Accelerating post-disaster reconstruction and recovery remains the top priority for the minister.
Minister Shrestha was invited to participate as a keynote speaker at the Global Infrastructure Cooperation Conference 2026, scheduled to be held in Seoul from Sept. 15 to 17. The Council of Ministers had approved the visit on July 28, which was to include a delegation led by the minister and Nepal Electricity Authority Executive Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha.
