Rautahat, January 26

All community schools in Rautahat and Parsa districts have been shut till Friday beginning today, as the districts have been in the grip of cold wave for a week.

Since the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front has allowed schools and colleges to run classes in the Tarai only during morning hours, college and school students have been facing difficulties due to thick fog.

It is learnt that a first-year student of bachelors of business studies of Gaurishankar Yadav Campus, Neha Lal Agrawal, and a 10th grader, Neha Shreevastav, fell unconscious in their classroom due to biting cold.

Nepal Teachers’ Association Vice-chairman Mahadev Sah said around 350 community schools had been closed for four days due to winter chill.

Secretary Gautam Shrestha of the Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation Nepal said the private schools would also be closed if the mercury dipped further.

Mohan Yadav, administrative officer of Gaurishankar Yadav Campus, said they had been facing problems to operate classes in unfavourable weather.

Rautahat Chief District Officer Narahari Baral said the office had arranged bonfire in human settlements, BP Chowk and main chowk so that people could keep themselves warm.

He said the office was preparing to distribute warm clothes among the needy soon. He said children and elderly people should come out of their home only after sunshine.

Parsa District Education Office has also decided to shut around 350 community schools for four days till Friday, said District Education Officer Ram Binaya Singh.

It is learnt that the biting cold has also affected the United Democratic Madhesi Front agitation in Birgunj and surrounding areas.

Moreover, seasonal patients have increased in Narayani Sub-regional Hospital.

The number of patients suffering from cold related diseases have increased in the health facilities.