Rautahat, December 20

Life has been adversely affected due to the cold wave sweeping across the Tarai for the past four days. Rautahat district, in particular, has been badly hit.

Movement of people in the chowks, towns and markets, among other places, has come down significantly with the sudden dip in temperature. The thick fog that has engulfed the district in the wake of the cold wave has made life even more difficult.

The bone-biting cold has affected life in Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Sarlahi, Mottahari and Dhanusha, among other districts of Province 2. Fewer service seekers can be seen at government offices due to the severe cold. Likewise, less number of vehicles can be seen plying the roads. The streets, markets and chowks in the cities of these Tarai districts wear a deserted look.

The cold wave has directly affected children, elderly citizens and new mothers. Patients can be seen thronging the health facilities. Patients with common cold fever, breathing complications, joint and muscle ache, among other cold-related ailments have reached the health facilities for treatment.

Daily wage earners and the people from marginalised communities have been affected the most. People from Dom, Susadha, Mushhar, among other communities are facing the problem of managing even their daily meals.

And, to add to the misery of people, the local levels and the administration has done precious little to protect them from the cold. The Mushhar Community in Gaur Municipality said the district disaster management committee had brought firewood and blankets before the cold wave began, but this was not enough.

Meanwhile, Subhadra Devi Jha, 78, of Durga Bhagawati Rural Municipality died due to a heart attack following the bone-biting cold yesterday.