In the last one week alone, a fire broke out in Matatirtha substation and Dhalkebar substation of Nepal Electricity Authority. During the underground line test, due to a fault in the Matatirtha substation and transmission line, the current transformer (CT) connected to the substation was tripped and there was a problem in the 132/33/11 KV section of the Dhalkebar substation. According to the authority, the transmission line 'fault' caused by high winds due to pre-monsoon causes fires.

Due to a 'fault' in the transmission line, a current transformer connected to the substation fell down on Wednesday, causing problems in electricity supply in areas such as Janakpurdham, Yadukuwa, Dhanushadham, Sakhuwa, Jaleshwar in Mahottari, Gaushala, Bardibas, Bhiman in Sindhuli. However, electricity was supplied to most places through alternative arrangements on Wednesday itself.

A team including Executive Director Hitendradev Shakya reached Dhalkebar substation on Thursday to study and inspect the Dhalkebar substation where the fire broke out. The authority said that the team reached the substation with the aim of solving the sudden technical problems, the existing load (demand and supply) situation in that area and the sustainable solution of these problems. The authority has said that the transmission and distribution infrastructure structure under the authority has been operating under maintenance (work-in-progress) conditions for years. 

According to the authority, it will be studied with a plan to carry out work including maintenance of infrastructure structure, new connections to supply sustainable and reliable electricity and to prevent such accidents from happening in the future. Dhalkebar is the biggest substation in the country. There are different substations here from 400 KV to 11 KV (400/220/132/33/11 KV). Vinod Lohani, Head of Dhalkebar Grid Division, said that the problem occurred only in the 132/33/11 KV section of the substation on Wednesday. During the

inspection, Executive Director Shakya instructed to work with high vigilance to prevent such technical problems from recurring in the future and to proceed with the action plan by arranging 'backup supply' in the highly sensitive substations.

Two power transformers of 63 MVA capacity connected to the substation had a problem on August 18, 2081. About 90 MVA load was being supplied from two transformers, and the load of 30 MVA was cut off for about 3 weeks. At that time, electricity was imported from Sursund in India through a 33 kV transmission line to regulate the supply of the affected areas. Through Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur international transmission line, Nepal has been importing electricity according to demand in winter and exporting electricity in dry season.

On Chait 31, electricity was disrupted due to a fire in the breaker panel used to control the power supply in the 11 KV feeder line under Matatirtha substation of the Authority. As the fire broke out during the testing of the underground line, the authority said that the construction contractor should take all responsibility for it. Shakya said that while operating the switch of the breaker panel, a spark caused the fire.