Kathmandu: For the last few weeks, there have been frequent electricity outages in different areas in Kathmandu. The outages have affected many, especially students and teachers who are studying and teaching via online mediums. For many students, the outages are especially worrying given imminent examinations.
One among the many bearing the brunt of frequent outages is Nikesh, a resident of Naya Thimi and a Bachelor’s level IT student at Tribhuvan University. He is preparing for his board exams slated for next week. But the frequent electricity outages are hampering his studies, he says.
“Many of my learning materials are available on various websites, and I need to be connected with the internet almost every time to prepare for my exam,” said Nikesh. “But from the last few weeks, interruption in power supply has disturbed my preparation.”
Monday was particularly frustrating for him, he said. “One minute there’d be power, the next it would be out,” Nikesh added. “I could use mobile internet data but you also need to charge your phone.”
Throughout the pandemic, many schools and colleges are conducting their classes virtually.
Aisha, a Kaushaltar-based teacher, said she is disappointed with such frequent electricity outages.
“I feel demotivated whenever electricity cuts off,” she said. “Power interruption makes classes ineffective and likewise, it deprives many students of virtual learning.”
Both Aaisha and Nikesh hope that this ongoing issue of electricity will sort out shortly and they can do their tasks easily.
Many other people on social media are also showing their disappointment about the frequent power cut-off.
One user writes, “I live in Kshireshwornath Municipality, Dhanusha. The issue here is—It cuts off so many times within an hour. The customer service is always busy (possibly it is hung up just to avoid the number of calls) or the calls go unanswered [sic].”
Anita Subedi, information person at Nepal Electricity Authority, said that the frequent power interruption was caused due to maintenance works and underground electric wire projects.
“Once things get done, it will be back to normal,” Subedi told Nepal Live Today. Subedi, however, said she is not sure how long it will take for the maintenance works and projects to get over.
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