Tarai still under cold grip, schools shut

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 26: Dense fog and an intense cold wave continue to affect normal life across much of the Tarai region. Transportation, education, health services, agriculture and livelihood remained affected on Wednesday and Thursday. 

With dipping mercury over a week, children, elderly people, daily wage earners and poor households have been hit the hardest.

Our Dang correspondent reported that thick fog and frost have made early morning movement difficult. Residents say routine activities, including farming, have been severely affected. 

Buddhiram Chaudhary of Karjahi in Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan City-17 said the prolonged cold has brought agricultural work to a halt. “Working in the fields has become impossible. We stay indoors wearing thick clothes and sitting by the fire,” he said.

The fog has spread from Ghorahi to Tulsipur and the Deukhuri area. Bus driver Buddhiraj Acharya said drivers were forced to move cautiously due to poor visibility and damp road surfaces, particularly along the Ghorahi-Lamahi-Bhalubang road section. 

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology’s field office in Ghorahi, Dang recorded a maximum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Officials said cold and foggy conditions are likely to persist for a few more days.

In Bardiya, people's movements have been reduced in the market centres of Gulariya, Mainapokhar, Sanoshree, Rajapur, Bhurigaun and Basgadhi.

 Ajay Sharma of Gulariya Municipality-5 said children are finding it difficult to commute to school due to the cold. Temperatures in Bardiya, which can reach as high as 44 degrees Celsius in summer, have dropped to around 13 degrees Celsius.

Paediatrician at Bardiya Hospital Dr. Bishwanath Shah said cases of colds, fever and respiratory problems among children are increasing. He advised parents to keep children and elderly people warm, provide hot food and avoid exposure during early mornings and evenings.

Authorities in West Nawalparasi have announced plans to provide relief and carry out rescue measures for families affected by the cold wave. 

Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Lamsal said priority would be given to poor and vulnerable households. An expanded meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee decided to launch awareness programmes at school and community level to reduce cold-related risks. 

The cold wave has also led to widespread school closures. In Saptari, Bodhbarsain Municipality has closed all schools for five days until December 28, citing difficulties faced by children in travelling amid fog and cold winds. 

In Mahottari, Bhangaha and Ramgopalpur municipalities have closed all community and religious schools from Tuesday to Friday as a precaution. 

In Banke, five local levels, including Kohalpur Municipality have closed all community and private schools for three days after children began falling ill due to extreme cold.  Khajura and Janaki rural municipalities have also announced school closures for three days, while Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City has declared a four-day winter break starting December 26. 

In Dhanusha, Janakpurdham Sub-metropolitan City has announced a one-day school closure on Friday, with further holidays possible if the cold persists.

In Mahottari, hospitals are witnessing increasing number of patients following the prolonged cold waves. Hospitals and Bardibas and Jaleshwar said that 170 patients suffering from cold-related diseases visit the hospitals every day.   

In Saptari, the Forest Division Office has started distributing firewood in different public places to keep the locals warm.

The Forest Division Office distributed firewood in various places of Rajbiraj Municipality on Wednesday, according to our Saptari correspondent Sudha Deo.