Dhangadhi/Rajbiraj, December 14

Cold wave sweeping across Tarai districts has hit normal life hard.

The cold wave has caused excessive cold in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts, leaving the freed Kamaiyas and squatters in the lurch. The freezing cold has mostly affected the elderly and children.

The number of patients suffering from diseases like diarrhoea, common cold, typhoid and pneumonia has gone up. Cold wave has also begun to affect crops planted in the Tarai districts, said Ramsworup Chaudhary from Kailai’s Gadariya. “The cold wave has started to destroy the crops,” he said.

Chilling cold has also disrupted people’s movement in the plains. Single Chaudhary of Hydrology and Meteorology Department Filed office, Attariya said the maximum and minimum temperature reached 18.1 and 14.8 degree Celsius respectively in Kailali and Kanchanpur.

He said the temperature might dip further in the days ahead. CDO Mohan Chapagain said Kailali District Administration Office had directed municipalities to manage firewood and make fire at chowks to avoid bone chilling cold a week ago.

The cold wave has also adversely affected life in Saptari. Ram Sundar Chaudhary, 60, from Malhaniya VDC lost his life owing to freezing cold two days ago.

The indefinite general strikes called by United Democratic Madhesi Front and chilling cold

have reduced movement of people on the streets. Similarly, health workers have disrupted all health services for the past 21 days protesting police high-handedness in Saptari. The closure of health facilities has deprived patients of health care services.

The freezing cold has hit the poor and needy people the hardest. As many as 13 persons died of cold in Saptari last year.

Locals said the government ought to do something to prevent deaths caused by cold wave in the plains.