Rajbiraj/Rautahat, Jan 7

At least 24 persons have been killed due to biting cold in the past week across the Tarai. Of these, 14 have died in Saptari and five each in Rautahat and Siraha.

According to DSP Dhruba Kumar Shrestha of Saptari District Police Office, seven people lost their lives due to excessive cold in the district last night. The deceased have been identified as Lakhan Thakur, 60, of Krishna Sabaran Rural Municipality, Shibu Mandal, 36, of Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality, Bachen Shekh, 55, Uttam Marik Dom, 61, seven-month old baby Ganesh Chaudhary of Kanchanrup Municipality, five-year-old Jhauli Yadav of Dakneshwori Municipality and Musharu Chaudhary, 70, of Khadak Municipality.

Locals of Saptari have sent a memorandum to the prime minister through provincial assembly member Sailendra Sah, demanding relief materials for those vulnerable to cold.

In Rautahat, two persons — Shekh Samim, 45, and Marathiya Kurmi, 65, of Paroha Municipality — died due to freezing cold last night.

Police said both were found dead in their houses. SP Yagya Binod Pokhrel said both died due to excessive cold.

Rautahat District Administration Office said warm clothes and blankets were being distributed in poor and Dalit settlements of the district.

In Siraha, Kajal Kumari Mandal, 5, of Gol Bazaar Municipality, died today due to excessive cold, taking the number of deaths due to cold wave in the district to five.

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