RAUTAHAT: The death toll caused by extreme cold in Rautahat has reached five as two more people succumbed to cold wave on Saturday night.

According to District Police Office, 45-year-old Sekh Samim and 65-year-old Marathiya Devi Kurmi of Paroha Municipality were pronounced dead in the autopsy report because of cold.

Moreover, everyday life in Rautahat and other areas in Tarai has been severely affected as the western wind, cold wave and dense fog hit the region in recent days.

There has been a decline in number of public service seekers in the government offices and public buses have seen a downfall in number of passengers, all pertaining to increasing cold in the region.

The District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee has stepped up efforts to save the common people from cold by distributing firewood in different areas of Gaur Municipality.

Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Army have come together to distribute firewood along with warm clothings and blankets to the economically backward people in the region, according to the District Administration Office.

Likewise, the community schools have extended winter vacation by four more days in light of the increasing cold in the region.

Likewise, Kailali and Kanchanpur along with the other districts in far western Tarai, have also reported a sharp decline in temperature in the recent days. Day-to-day life in the region has been affected as health issues pertaining to cold have surfaced in children and elderly citizens.

The hospitals have reported a rise in number of patients with ailments caused by cold like pneumonia, common cold and other respiratory diseases.

Apart from the common folks, the increasing cold has also taken its toll on the crops like mustard, wheat, chickpea (Chana) and such others. Farmers have reported damage in the crops due to cold-fungus.

In this backdrop, the District Administration Office Kailali has directed the municipalities to arrange firewood in various areas to curb the cold wave effect.