News from Nepal

KATHMANDU, April 6 - Thousands queued up at various Nepal Telecom (NT) offices in the valley on Friday as the NT began distribution of pre-paid mobile SIM-cards through its offices in all three districts in the valley.

Customers could be seen thronging telecom offices— sometimes in queues upto 8 kilometres long— since early morning following the announcement that pre-paid cards would be distributed through NT's Kathmandu regional directorate in Tripureshwor.

Meanwhile, police intervention became necessary in Bhaktapur and Kirtipur where minor scuffles broke out among customers waiting in line for their turn.

The overwhelming rush also owes to the new provision that makes the SIM-cards available immediately after the forms are registered.

Managing Director of NT Sugaratna Kansakar said that he has requested people to stop queuing after 2pm, as sim-cards would only be distributed to those customers who have been in queue before 2pm.

Kansakar informed that over 60000 prepaid SIM-cards were distributed today itself.

Sim-cards are being given out from various NT braches including those at Bhadrakali, Teku, Chhauni, Bhaisepati, Balambu, Gongabu, Patan and Bhaisipati, among others since 10 this morning.

Meanwhile, an emergency meeting was held at the NT head office after the number of people thronging NT offices for sim-cards exceeded all expectations.

According to Kansakar, the meeting will decide on issues like the total number of sim-cards to be distributed and basic distribution procedures.

The customers who have been in queues before 2pm will either be given the cards today itself or will be given cards later through coupons which will be issued to them today.

According to the Metropolitan Traffic Police Office, Ramshah path, the rush disrupted morning traffic in the capital. Traffic management has been disrupted as the queue in front of the NT main office, Bhadrakali extended upto Thapathali.

Meanwhile, telecom costumers in Dhading also had lined up at the Dhading NT office since midnight, our correspondent reported.

The NT however, refused to reveal just how many SIM-cards the Dhading office would be able to distribute.