RAJBIRAJ, JANUARY 15 Saptari’s Saptakoshi Municipality has decided to close all schools across the local level for a week in view of the extreme weather condition. According to Mayor Uttam Kumar Sharma Gautam, the decision to suspend classes had to be taken keeping schoolchildren’s safety in mind. “As the increasing cold put children at risk, the municipality’s board meeting decided to close all government and private schools in the local level until coming Wednesday,” the mayor informed. Meanwhile, looking to mitigate the impact of the biting cold, Saptari Division Forest Office and different local levels have started distributing firewood to help the vulnerable population fend off cold. “In Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality, firewood was being distributed in major chowks and other public places, and to poor settlements and impoverished communities,” said forest office Chief Santosh Jha. Tilathi Koiladi RM Chairperson Satishkumar Singh said firewood would be distributed in all eight wards by identifying the people who need it most. “People who are barely scraping by can’t afford to buy firewood. Therefore, we’re purchasing firewood from our resources and distributing it to those to whom this could be lifesaver during winter,” Singh said. Featured Image : File/Photo