MAHENDRANAGAR: Normal life in Dhanusha including central and eastern Tarai districts has been affected due to constant rise in temperature for the past few days.

The sweltering summer heat compounded by heat wave, gust and dust is creating risk of fires in the rural settlements. The heat wave has also impacted vegetation including the seasonal fruit mango.

The daily-wage earners are forced to toil under the scorching sun where people are even finding it hard to take a walk or travel outside shelters. The children are also starting to fall ill with heat related diseases.

The streets of the thoroughfares have wore a deserted look as green vegetation including cucumber have started to dry up, according to District Agriculture Development Office, Dhanusha.

The temperature on Friday was recorded at 40.8 degree Celsius in Janakpur, said Meteorological Forecasting Division Field Office, Janakpur.

The continued rise in mercury has been blamed also on the prolonged drought. The temperature that is already hovering around 40 degree Celsius mark is expected to shoot up in midsummer, the Division said.

The chances of rainfall are slight so it is unlikely that we will get relief from the heat anytime soon, said Field Office technician, Rajendra Raut.