Internet down for 25 days in two rural municipalities of Upper Mustang

Internet service provided by private company Techmind Network has been down for about 25 days in Lomanthang and Loghekar Damodarkunda rural municipalities of Upper Mustang.

Locals say the service, disrupted by continuous rain and floods since Asoj 9, has still not been repaired. Government and non-government offices, as well as private households in these rural municipalities bordering China, rely on this company's internet.

Lomanthang Rural Municipality Chairperson Tsering Norbu Gurung said the outage has affected the work of the rural municipality, banks and financial institutions, security agencies and the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. He said the matter was brought to attention through the District Administration Office after repeated requests to the company drew no response.

Chairperson Gurung complained that the company, which had received advance payment, has not carried out repairs. Umesh Paudel, chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project's Lomanthang area office, said his office has been working using a hotspot from Nepal Telecom's mobile data. Paudel said the office has demanded a refund of the advance payment it made.

Locals have asked the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to take legal action against the company for the disruption. The public has also complained of poor internet quality in Mustang's Baragung Muktichhetra, Gharapjhong and Thasang rural municipalities. Techmind Network has not yet responded on the matter.