Nepal Telecom has suffered infrastructure damage of approximately NPR 88.51 million since the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods hit Nepal on August 26, 2026. The extent of the damage was disclosed in Nepal’s House of Representatives on September 30, highlighting the impact of the disaster on the country’s telecommunications infrastructure.
According to a report by myRepublica, Minister for Information and Communications Bikram Timilsina told Parliament that Nepal Telecom's mobile, wireline and backbone transmission systems were among the infrastructure affected by the floods.
Floods Disrupted Telecom Infrastructure
The Bhotekoshi-Trishuli flood caused massive damage in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading. Nepal Telecom had 120 sites in the affected districts, with 83 sites disrupted, according to the minister's statement on myRepublica. Three sites -- Trishuli-3 'B', Chilime Khola and Timure -- were destroyed completely.
The disaster adversely affected communications at a time when residents, rescue teams and government agencies needed reliable connectivity for emergency operations.
The Kathmandu Post also reported extensive damage to Nepal's telecommunications network following the floods. The newspaper reported that Nepal Telecom had rebuilt affected sites and alternative sites were being used in places where towers had been completely washed away.
Floods Hit Nepal on August 26
The Bhotekoshi flood hit on August 26, 2026, and caused widespread destruction along the river system and in some districts.
Initial reports indicated major disruptions to telephone and internet services. OnlineKhabar reported on August 27 that 60 Nepal Telecom towers and 27 Ncell towers were then affected, but many Nepal Telecom sites were subsequently recovered.
The disaster also destroyed roads and bridges, houses and hydropower facilities as well.
Nepal Telecom worked to restore services.
After the disaster, Nepal Telecom deployed technical teams to restore connectivity in the affected areas. The company also put in place emergency measures to help people maintain contact with relatives, rescuers and authorities.
Nepal Telecom extended free voice calls, data and SMS services to those in flood-affected areas. Kantipur reported on August 27 that the company extended the free services for three more days as the emergency situation continued.
When telecommunications towers were destroyed, operators had to look for other ways to restore coverage.
Wider Communication Challenges
The flooding has raised questions about the ability and resilience of Nepal’s communications infrastructure in the face of major disasters. The Kathmandu Post reported that damaged towers and fibre networks led operators in some areas to use backup systems in the face of damage to towers and fibre networks. Satellite phones and microwave technology were used instead of traditional phones in emergency communications.
The damage to Nepal Telecom is part of a much broader impact from the Bhotekoshi disaster, which also affected hydropower projects and transmission infrastructure throughout the region.
The NPR 88.51 million thus represents Nepal Telecom's infrastructure damage rather than the total financial damage caused by the Bhotekoshi floods.
