KATHMANDU: Telecommunications operators have accelerated efforts to restore mobile and internet services in areas of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading affected by Wednesday’s devastating flood in the Bhote Koshi River.
Nepal Telecom and Ncell said they have prioritised the repair and restoration of damaged mobile towers, fibre links and other network infrastructure to reconnect affected communities.
Nepal Telecom deployed technical staff by helicopter on Thursday and brought a mobile station into operation in Dhunche, the district headquarters of Rasuwa. Technical teams continued working in affected areas on Friday to restore services at remaining sites.
According to Nepal Telecom, the Goljung mobile tower at Bahundanda in Gosainkunda Rural Municipality–5, Rasuwa, has been restored. Services have subsequently resumed in Syabrubesi, parts of Parvatikunda Rural Municipality–4 and 5, Gosainkunda Rural Municipality–3 and 5, and sections of the Syabrubesi–Timure road corridor.
The operator has also restored the Gerku mobile tower in Suryagadhi Rural Municipality–3, Nuwakot, bringing telecommunications services back to parts of Bidur Municipality–10 and 11 and Suryagadhi Rural Municipality–4.
Nepal Telecom is using helicopters to transport generators, fuel and technical personnel to the Tupche tower in Bidur Municipality–8 and another tower located on a hill above Timure in Gosainkunda Rural Municipality–2.
The company said 80 of the 120 network sites affected across the three districts have so far been restored.
Ncell restores 19 affected sites
Private operator Ncell has also intensified its network restoration efforts in the flood-hit districts.
Of its 27 affected sites, Ncell restored 14 on Thursday—three in Rasuwa, eight in Nuwakot and three in Dhading. Five additional sites were brought back online on Friday, taking the total number of restored sites to 19.
The flood damaged fibre links across an estimated 70–80-kilometre stretch, disrupting connectivity at 27 Ncell mobile sites.
Ncell said its teams are repairing damaged fibre wherever possible while also deploying older microwave links as an alternative where fibre restoration is not immediately feasible.
The company has mobilised technical teams by both air and road to reach affected locations and restore connectivity as quickly as possible.
Ncell has also announced that customers in the affected areas will receive free voice and data services for an additional three to seven days.
The restoration effort has been complicated by damage to roads, bridges, electricity infrastructure and telecommunications facilities themselves. Operators are therefore relying on helicopters, backup power, fuel supplies, alternative transmission links and field engineering teams to rebuild communications in some of the hardest-hit areas.
For communities cut off by the flood, restoring telecommunications is more than a matter of connectivity. It is critical for emergency coordination, rescue operations, access to information and communication between families and authorities.
