Flood Causes Over NPR 90 Million Damage to Ncell’s Infrastructure
News Summary
Editorially Reviewed.
- The devastating Bhote Koshi flood completely destroyed one Ncell mobile tower and over 60 kilometers of optical fiber lines in Timure, Rasuwa.
- Floods and landslides affected 27 towers across Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Dhading; 24 sites have resumed operation while repairs continue on three others.
- Since September 25, Ncell has provided free voice, data, and SMS services to more than 300,000 customers in the flood-affected areas, with the cost exceeding NPR 10 million as of Sunday.
September 3, Kathmandu – The catastrophic Bhote Koshi flood completely damaged one Ncell mobile tower and over 60 kilometers of optical fiber lines located in Timure, Rasuwa.
According to initial estimates, the flood and landslides have caused Ncell an economic loss exceeding NPR 90 million, the company reported.
In total, 27 mobile towers in Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Dhading were affected by the floods and landslides, of which 24 have been restored to operation, the company stated.
Among the remaining three towers, one in Timure and one in Ghattakhola of Rasuwa were completely destroyed. Additionally, technical teams are actively working in the field to restore towers in Trishuli and Bidur of Nuwakot as well as a tower in Tirus, Rasuwa.
Meanwhile, Ncell has been offering free voice, data, and SMS services to over 300,000 customers in flood-affected areas since September 10. This service targets customers in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan.
The free services were initially enabled for customers who had been active in the affected areas seven days prior to the onset of floods. Originally provided for three days, the service period was later extended by seven more days.
According to Ncell, the value of free voice, data, and SMS services provided up to Sunday has surpassed NPR 10 million. The usage of free services has been increasing as mobile towers have gradually been restored.
To ensure continuous connectivity during the crisis, Ncell reactivated SIM services for over 25,000 customers whose services had been suspended due to balance top-up issues or for whom both outgoing and incoming services had been deactivated. These customers have also benefitted from the free services.
Furthermore, in coordination with the Government of Nepal and Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Ncell has been disseminating public awareness call tones and SMS messages.
The company has urged the public to verify the authenticity of accounts, QR codes, and links before donating to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. It has also appealed to avoid sharing or to promptly remove devastating and distressing photos or videos related to the disaster on social media and online platforms.