Aagya Khabar
Janakpurdham

Incidents of electricity transformer theft have increased significantly in various districts of Madhesh Province in recent years. According to the Nepal Electricity Authority, Madhesh Provincial Office, Janakpurdham, a total of 99 transformers have been stolen across the province over the past five years.

Administrative Chief Kalicharan Yadav of the office stated that the rise in the price of copper wire used inside transformers has led to an increase in theft incidents. Most of the stolen transformers had capacities ranging from 15 kVA to 200 kVA.

According to the data, the highest number of transformer thefts occurred in Mahottari, with 35 stolen transformers. It was followed by Bara with 15, Dhanusha with 14, Rautahat with 10, Sarlahi and Siraha with 9 each, Saptari with 3, and Parsa with 2 stolen transformers.

Transformer theft has had a direct impact particularly on the agricultural sector. The disruption of electricity supply required for irrigation has prevented farmers from irrigating their fields on time. Affected farmers have demanded that the authorities immediately arrest those involved in the theft, install new transformers, and restore regular electricity service.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General of Police Om Prasad Adhikari of the Madhesh Province Police Office, Janakpurdham, said that police have been actively mobilized to recover the stolen transformers and identify and arrest those involved in the incidents.