BARA: Continuous spell of cold wave has crippled daily life in Bara district, affecting the locals in various ways.

Fog covers the district with no sight of the sun for the past 27 days, while the locals are heavily dependent on fire to ward off the bitter cold.

People's movement has been largely restricted and government offices have witnessed a slim flow of service seekers.

Many local health institutions are receiving an increasing number of patients with cold-related diseases like cold diarrhoea, common cold and fever, said health workers.

The cold wave has been lingering for long this year. "The sun would appear after two or three days of cold wave in the past. We are yet to feel the warmth of the sun for the past 25 days this year however," said Sanjaya Shashristi, a local of Aaudhapur-2.

Educational institutions that were shut around 10 days ago to escape cold have just resumed regular classes.

The local administration and local levels have distributed firewood and warm clothes for the poor locals to battle the cold, but not enough, the locals complained.

Rajesh Mandal, ward chairman of Kalaiya Sub Metropolitan City-2, said that his office recently distributed warm clothes to around 150 poor families in the locality.

Shashristi came down heavily on the government however for its failure to take precautionary measures timely for people to battle cold. "Many cold-caused deaths occur every year.

However, the government seems to be ignorant about it. It is a matter of serious and urgent concern," he said.