To cut use of Nepalese SIM cards, border villages in Uttarakhand get satellite phones

PITHORAGARH: In areas having poor phone connectivity along the China and Nepal border adjoining Pithoragarh, the district administration has decided to provide satellite phones to around 49 gram pradhans in the area. These phones have been given by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to the district administration for the use of villagers, many of whom had to depend on Nepalese SIM cards for communication.

Vijay Kumar Jogdande, district magistrate of Pithoragarh, told TOI that of the 49 villages, 34 are from Dharchula tehsil while the rest are from Munsyari. “On Friday, we gave 19 satellite phones to the gram pradhans of Byas and Darma areas of Dharcula. The rest will also be distributed shortly. On Sunday, 15 village heads in Munsyari will be provided the satellite phones,” the DM said.