October 22: The 132 kV substation situated in Duhabi of Sunsari district has finally come into operation after 38 hours of blackout. The power that got cut off on Tuesday night was restored on Thursday.

The Duhabi substation had been inundated after following a heavy rainfall in the area. The substation had been out of operation since Tuesday. The work of removal of water from the substation had been going on continuously after the power got cut off.

“Our team's day-to-day work, help from local level, administration, security and support from the local residents helped us in removing water from the substation,” said Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kulman Ghising. “We are now supplying electricity to the area by gradually charging the lines extended from the Duhabi substation.”

The Duhabi station is the main substation that supplies electricity to the districts of Province 1. The electricity supply of the districts; Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Dhankuta, Terhathum, Sakhuwasabha and Bhojpur etc. had been cut off after the Duhabi station went out of operation.

With the operation of the substation, power supply to most of the places has already resumed.

NEA Duhabi Grid Branch Chief, Rajesh Regmi informed that they have succeeded in charging the substation by adopting necessary safety measures as there was no major damage to the equipment. The capacity of four power transformers in the substation is 219 MVA.

Similarly, the Attaria (Kailali) -Chamelia (Darchula) 132 KV transmission line, which was closed due to falling of trees in various places due to rains, has also come into operation. The transmission line has come into operation from Thursday after removal of the obstruction.

Power supply resumed in most parts of the hill districts of the far west as soon as the transmission line came into operation.