Myangdi, October 12
Electricity supply has been restored to Annapurna Rural Municipality in Myagdi and to Mustang, both affected by the recent rain, floods and landslides.
Flooding in the Kali Gandaki River after rain from September 24 to 27 knocked down four towers of the 220 kV Dana-Khurkot transmission line at Pokharebagar, Dhirchyang and Bhirkate in Dowa, in Annapurna Rural Municipality, Myagdi. The line was also severed, cutting off power to Mustang district and Annapurna Rural Municipality.
Hemraj Chapagain, chief of the Nepal Electricity Authority’s Tatopani Distribution Centre, whose jurisdiction covers wards 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Annapurna Rural Municipality and all of Mustang district, said that because of the transmission line problem it was not immediately possible to supply electricity from the Dana substation, so an alternative arrangement was made.
“Since it was not immediately possible from the Dana substation, we repaired the 33 kV transmission line running from Milanchowk through Dana to Kowang in Mustang and restored supply,” he said. “We succeeded in supplying electricity by mobilising the Authority’s staff, technicians and workers.”
Chapagain said electricity has been supplied in Mustang since Asoj 24 (Oct 10), and repair work in Myagdi has been completed everywhere except for one or two households. With the restoration of power, the disrupted communication services have resumed.
Daily life for the general public has begun to return to normal. The floods destroyed 10 poles and 500 metres of wire on the Milanchowk-Dana 33 kV transmission line, five poles and 200 metres of wire on the Dana-Kowang section, and various equipment.
On the 11 kV distribution lines under the Tatopani Distribution Centre, one pole each in Myagdi and Mustang, along with 1,000 metres of wire and equipment in Mustang, were damaged.
Chapagain said nine megawatts of electricity generated by the Thapakhola and Ghalemdikhola hydropower projects is being fed into the 33 kV line.
However, the 42 MW Mistrikhola, 110 MW Nilgiri, 6 MW Relekhola and 14 MW Gharkhola hydropower projects in Myagdi remain shut down.
