Due to continuous heavy rains and subsequent floods, life was affected in the third week of October. Especially the central to northeastern region of the country was more affected by the rain.

So far, 53 people have died due to the flood and seven people are missing. If the stranded passengers have not yet reached their destination, the government has already said that it will take a few more days to fully operate the traffic on all the roads. Even in the harsh conditions of the country, the telecommunication sector has been able to provide continuous service. Even though the telecommunication infrastructure was heavily damaged due to the flood, the service continued to operate. 

Naveen Mishra, co-spokesperson of Nepal Telecom, says that uninterrupted service delivery is possible due to continuous deployment and preparation of manpower. The company's services were particularly affected in Madhesh and Koshi provinces. Due to heavy rains, landslides and inundation, 1,500 towers of Nepal Telecom were damaged across the country. About 300 towers were damaged in Madhesh, he said. According to

co-spokesperson Mishra, Nepal Telecom has kept an 'Integrated Maintenance Unit' throughout the country to work during disasters. The same team is ready to be mobilized in the work area in any situation . Last October 18th and 19th, about five lakh consumers of Kosi and Madhes provinces were affected. He said that although the service was affected for two days in Ilam of Kosi province, the service was not interrupted for a long time in other areas.

According to Ncell, a private sector telecom service provider, around 400 towers of the company have been damaged due to landslides and inundation. Ncell says that the problem areas have been identified and the service has been started. Although there is a problem in some places of Ilam due to electricity, now the service has been started in all places. 

According to the Chinese company Huawei, which is cooperating with telecommunication service providers Nepal Telecom and Ncell, preparations had already started after the government predicted heavy rain from October 17th to 20th. Last year too, due to heavy rains and floods and landslides, Huawei had started preparations within its jurisdiction. 

What problems occur in disasters?

During a natural calamity, the tower, the main device that provides services, is interrupted. When a flood cuts a fiber or 'microwave link' or washes away a road, the tower network is disconnected. Some towers get flooded or electricity poles fall or lines are damaged, power supply is cut off and service is interrupted . Sometimes storms, floods, and landslides can cut large amounts of fiber cables. When a tree falls or a landslide occurs, fiber cables stretched in the air are snapped . Even in that case, the service is interrupted . 

Similarly, when the road is flooded or the ground is above ground, the underground fiber is pinched or broken due to which the cable joint (splice point and enclosure) is destroyed . This causes the service to be interrupted . Apart from that, due to the problem of power supply, the service is interrupted . Backup batteries or diesel generators may be damaged or rendered unusable due to lack of access to refueling, resulting in service delays. 

The resumption of service has been delayed due to the recent floods that washed away or blocked the road. Field engineers have difficulty reaching damaged areas due to blocked or flooded roads, collapsed bridges or landslides. 

How does the service operate?

Telecom service providers are monitoring whether the service is being provided round the clock in all areas of the country . Under this, there is also the work of taking advance notice and monitoring. 

This time, based on the information received from the Water and Weather Forecast Division, the 'network' monitoring was increased . Thus the high risk area is identified . In such a situation, the telecom service provider activates the emergency mechanism and the field engineer is immediately informed of the location where the fiber is cut, the tower is broken or the power is interrupted.

is then informed about the 'backup power' and the condition of the equipment at the location of the interruption . Batteries, generators and spare parts are kept ready locally. Repairs are carried out in the affected areas in cooperation with the local administration, security personnel and the community where the service is disrupted.

Under the direction of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, service providers such as Ncell and Nepal Telecom coordinate with each other to ensure network continuity. These efforts help to maintain communication services in Nepal continuously even during disasters like floods, landslides and earthquakes.