Power outage for hours in Nepal as man climbs up main 60 MW transmission line

KATHMANDU, Nepal - On Saturday, Nepal Electricity Authority, NEA was forced to cut power to industries in some areas to compensate for a power outage caused by the shutdown of the 60MW Upper Trishuli 3A project after a man climbed up the main transmission line connecting the project in Kakani, Nuwakot.

According to government officials, Prem BK from Belkotgadhi Municipality climbed up the high-voltage transmission line in Kakani Rural Municipality-7 around 11 a.m. and did not return until the evening.

"As a result, we were forced to shut down the power plant and cut industrial loads in certain locations at certain times," said Suresh Bhattarai, NEA spokesperson.

According to Suman Tamang, chairperson of Kakani Rural Municipality, the NEA was notified after locals saw the man climbing up the transmission line.

"There was no harm done to the man," he stated.

The identity of the man who climbed the transmission line was not immediately known. Some locals claim he has an intellectual disability.

Later that evening, a Nepal Army team rescued him, according to Tamang.