SIRAHA: Life in Tarai Madhes has been affected due to the adverse weather brought about by a cold wave.

People’s mobility and activities in the bazaars, including that in Lahan, have decreased by a margin during the mornings due to the cold wave.

Especially those from the financially deprived families are finding it hard to fend off the winter cold.

The eastern Tarai district of Siraha has been affected due to a sudden increase in cold for the past two days. A dip in temperature and cold wave have caused an adverse weather, directly causing impact on people's daily lives, especially on their health.

The number of patients with common cold, fever, breathing complications and joint and muscle pain has significantly increased in the District Hospital.

The flow of patients at the Lahan Hospital and other health facilities in rural areas is equally high in these days, the District Public Health Office Siraha said.

The market wears a deserted look in the evening too.

Siraha, Udayapur, Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa districts in Province 1 and Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha among other districts in Province 2 are affected by the cold wave.

The temperature in Lahan was 11 degrees Celsius this morning. Mostly infants and older people have caught common cold, fever, pneumonia and respiration-related diseases.

People's movement in the district headquarters, towns and market areas has significantly gone down with a dip in temperature in the past two days. Only few people are visiting government offices to seek services.

Doctors at the Siraha District Hospital said some 20-25 people visit the hospital with cold-induced health issues each day. Daily wage earners are among the most affected.

People have started gathering around bonfire to keep cold away. The District Administration Office, Siraha has already issued a circular to the local government, Forest Division Office, Siraha and other authorities concerned to arrange for bonfires in public areas, especially those with financially backward settlements.