Dhangadi, January 7

Life has been adversely affected due to the bone-biting cold wave and thick fog in Kailali and Kanchanpur.

Daily activities have been badly affected and elderly citizens, physically challenged, new mothers and children are among the worst hit. The poor, landless squatters and others are facing problems as they could not afford to buy warm clothes.

Unable to come out of their houses, the locals can mostly be seen warming themselves around fires. Singal Chaudhary, assistant at the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology Field Office, Attariya, said the temperature measured 7.2 degrees Celsius today morning.

With the sun nowhere to be seen and the temperature falling, common cold, the cold-related illnesses have increased and the health facilities have witnessed a rise in patients. Hospitals in the districts said patients suffering from pneumonia, common cold and asthma, among other diseases are up. Hospital sources added that more and more patients are coming for treatment every day.

The cold wave has also destroyed seasonal crops. Krishna Chaudhary, a farmer of Gadariya, Kailali said the cold wave had destroyed potatoes and tomatoes, among other seasonal crops in the field.

Meanwhile, the movement of people in the market areas has also dropped drastically. Fewer service seekers are visiting government offices to get their works done.

District Administration Office, Kailali, has directed all the rural municipalities and municipalities to light up fire in the chowks.