KATHMANDU: A Nepal Army helicopter has successfully landed today to rescue the employees of the Upper Trishuli 3 ‘A’ hydropower project.

Although two attempts to land yesterday were unsuccessful due to adverse weather, an on-site assessment of the actual damage and situation has begun after the helicopter landed at the project site today.

Honorable Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha directed to expedite the rescue and resumption of power supply as soon as possible. As per the instructions of Minister Shrestha, Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Dirgha Yun Kumar Shrestha has been deployed in the field since this morning to monitor the situation, rescue coordination and restore the electricity to the affected areas. A high-level team led by Deputy Executive Director Kiran Kumar Shrestha, Chief and Spokesperson of the Directorate of Distribution and Customer Service Rajan Dhakal and Chief Executive Officer of NEA Engineering Company Chirantan Bikram Rana has been deployed in the affected areas.

Works are underway to restore power supply through alternative means in the affected areas after the Bhotekoshi flood damaged the electricity infrastructure.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has already restored power supply in Kharanitar, Samundratar, Chaugada, Likhu and Panchakanya areas of Nuwakot through an alternative line connecting Sindhupalchowk. During an on-site inspection conducted by a high-level team for power restoration in other affected areas of Nuwakot, 66 kV power supply has been restored. It is possible to restore power supply by charging the line at 11 kV. Accordingly, the Chapali-Devighat 66 kV line and Balaju-Trishuli 66 kV The technical team has intensified the necessary preparations and work in the field to restore the power supply by charging the line at 11 kV.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is making efforts to restore power supply to the affected areas at the earliest using all available alternative technical measures.