BARA: Cold wave has hit mid-Terai since Friday, affecting daily lives of people in the area. A sudden dip in temperature owing to the cold wave has especially become problematic for toddlers, schoolchildren, elderly and the ill.

People in the financially backward settlements in mid Terai have had to spend the nights around wood-fire in lack of proper winter clothes, said Majhar Ram, 60, a Kaliya municipality local.

Likewise, constant thick fog has obstructed flights operating from Simara Airport in the district. Disruption of regular flights since Friday has affected many passengers using Simara airport services.

Compared to five Budhha Air flights and one Nepal Airlines flight that operated on a daily basis, a total of only five flights have operated from the airport since Friday, Air Traffic Controller of the Simara Airport, Amrit Pokharel said.

On Tuesday alone, four flights have already been cancelled while the possibility of operation of remaining two scheduled flights is still uncertain, Pokharel added.

According to the Meteorological station at the aiport, the minimum temperature of Bara district on Tuesday morning was recorded below 10 degree Celsius.

Cold affects schools, rise in cold-affected illnesses

Meanwhile, the dipping temperature has also affected basic level education, according to teachers.

There is a significant decrease in the number of school children attending classes as compared to normal times, Jayanti Simkhada, a teacher in a lower secondary school situated in Jitpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan city.

Simkhada further added that the classes were conducted out in the open on Tuesday after witnessing sunshine after days.

Meanwhile, the rush of patients suffering from cold induced ailments has increased in hospitals of late.  People suffering from cold-related diseases, especially those suffering from cold, cough and pneumonia have been coming in large numbers for treatment, Public Health Officer Rambinay Yadav informed.

Likewise, the District Police Office of Bara has issued a public welfare notice urging the district residents to keep themselves safe from the potential dangers of cold wave.

Stating that decreasing temperature and cold wave has claimed the lives of many in the past, the DPO has issued the notice with the message ‘Sawadhani apanau, sheet-lahar baata jogiau (Take caution, stay safe from effects of cold wave)’.

The DPO notice further recommends people to wear thick warm clothes, to refrain from wandering outside in the cold unless absolutely necessary, to drive vehicles in a limited speed, turn the fog lights and the head lights on while driving, among other suggestions.