Five die of cold

RAJBIRAJ: A cold wave sweeping Saptari district has claimed five more lives within the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 23. Three persons -- Surji Yadav, 60, and Lalobati Sardar, 55, of Pakari VDC 4, and Rebanidevi Sardar of Prasabani VDC 9 -- died of the cold on Thursday, while Juri Sardar, 60, of Bairawa VDC-8 and Urmila Shrestha, 60, of Rajbiraj-6, died on Wednesday. Two others died of cold on Tuesday.

3 killed in jeep hit

DHANGADHI: Three persons were killed and six others injured when a jeep hit them in Rajpur-Mohanpur section of the Bhimdutta Panta Highway. Police identified the deceased as Bhojraj Bhatta (65), Bamdev Joshi and Madaru Choudhari, residents of Geta VDC. Eyewitness said the jeep ran over the pedestrians one after another. Hospital sources said it was unknown whether or not the driver, who got hurt too, was drunk.