GAIGHAT: The number of students in schools in Udaypur has sharply declined with the sudden drop in mercury in the Tarai areas for the past few days. Community schools based in Tapeshwori of Belaka Municipality; Handiya and Sundarpur of Chaudandi Municipality and Jogi Daha area of Triyuga Municipality have been receiving a minimum number of students after the cold has hit the areas. “Fog blankets the settlements until 10:00 am, causing low visibility and cold. School children, mainly pre-primary and primary students, stay indoors till noon due to adverse weather condition,” said Babulal Chaudhary, a teacher at Janata Higher Secondary School, Handiya. The attendance of students in primary-level is below 10 per cent, stated Sumitra Pokhrel, a teacher of Tapeshwori Ambasi. Children and elderly  have been affected the most by the cold, informed a local, Narayan Dhakal of Triyuga Municipality-1. It has been learnt that the cold has increased in the Terai region relatively earlier than previous years.