Schools in Nepalgunj and Khajura closed for three days due to cold

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Jan. 23: Community and private schools in Nepalgunj and Khajura in Banke district have been closed for three days due to the extreme cold.

The decision to close the schools was taken after children began falling ill because of extreme cold. Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City and Khajura Rural Municipality have announced the closure of schools from Wednesday to Friday. The two local levels said the classes would resume on Sunday.

Mayor Prashant Bista of Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City said, “The extreme cold and adverse weather conditions have disrupted students’ learning activities, prompting us to grant a three-day winter break for schools. He added that all schools under the Sub-Metropolitan City's jurisdiction must observe the mandatory winter holidays.”

Similarly, Chairperson of Khajura Rural Municipality Dambar BK informed that considering the extreme cold, schools in the rural municipality have been closed for three days starting Wednesday. He said that as students started falling ill due to the increasing cold, and the students who had to cover a long distance to reach schools were facing additional challenges, they decided to give a three-day break. 

Over the past week, the cold wave in Banke and other districts of western Nepal’s Tarai region has led to a sharp drop in temperatures. Parents have reported difficulties for children in travelling to and staying at schools due to the dense fog and mist accompanying the cold wave.

The adverse weather has also disrupted air travel for the past three days. Flights from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu and other hilly districts have been grounded due to low visibility, according to the Civil Aviation Office in Nepalgunj.

Hospitals in Nepalgunj have reported a rise in patients suffering from cold-related illnesses.

Meanwhile, local governments in the district have started distributing warm clothes to elderly citizens.

Acknowledging the vulnerability of the elderly to extreme cold, Baijanath Rural Municipality distributed warm clothes and fibre quilts to 700 senior citizens aged 69 and above within the municipality. 

Chairperson Prakash Bahadur Shahi said that the distribution targeted impoverished and highly vulnerable groups to ensure no senior citizen suffers due to the cold.

The municipality organised the distribution programmes in areas such as Chisapani (Ward No. 1), Dighiya (Ward 2), Bairahawa (Ward 3), Baniyabhar (Ward 4), Bankatuwa (Ward 5), Pedari (Ward 7) and in Ward No. 8. 

Key officials, including Chairperson Shahi, Vice-Chairperson Nirmala Rokaya, Social Development Committee Coordinator Bhumisara Rana and Chief of the Women, Children and Senior Citizens Branch, Laxmi Gyawali Dhakal, participated in the distribution.

Previously, the municipality also arranged free firewood distribution in various locations to help residents stay warm. Vice-Chairperson Rokaya said that Baijanath Rural Municipality has been providing free ambulance services and health insurance for senior citizens.