Ncell extends free service in flood-hit areas

Kathmandu, Aug. 29

Ncell has extended its free voice, data and SMS services in flood-affected areas by 7 days, effective from Saturday, to facilitate communication, search and rescue, and relief distribution efforts.

"With this extension, these services will now be available free of charge in the affected areas for additional one week," the company informed in a statement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Ncell had announced free data, on-net voice calls and 100 free SMS for three days for people in areas affected by the severe flooding in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa.

Stating that communication services play a vital role during disasters by facilitating information sharing, coordination, and search, rescue and relief efforts, Ncell said that it has extended the free service period to make it easier for people in the affected communities to stay connected with their families, loved ones, and teams involved in rescue and relief operations.

Upanga Dutta, Chief Consumer Business Officer of Ncell, said that he company has restored 18 mobile towers that were disrupted due to the floods in the affected areas and is continuing efforts to restore remaining nine affected sites.

Similarly, Ncell through its Ncell Foundation contributed Rs. 10 million to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Nepal Telecom has resumed its services through a tower located alongside the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project in Rasuwa. This will make communication easier for the rescue operations being carried out in the tunnel of the hydropower project, the company said in a statement.

The generator and fuel required to operate the tower were transported to the site using the company’s vehicles and by human carriers over a distance of nearly one hour. The company’s technicians conducted the necessary technical tests before bringing the tower into operation.

Similarly, the Tupche BTS in Rasuwa district has also resumed operation from Saturday. Services have now been restored in the vicinity of the Trishuli 3B project site, Betrawati and parts of Kalikasthan through this site.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 30 August 2026.