The police sources confirmed that five in Mahottari and one in Dhanusa have succumbed to the freezing temperatures. [break]
Among the dead, 63-year-old Budhanidevi Yadav was a resident of Kiratipur, Dhanusa while the rest of the deceased--90-year-old Laxmandas Vaishnav, 70-year-old Uttim Sardar, 52-year-old Shanti Devi, 65-year-old Aghanu Mandal and 13-year-old Lal Mahomad-were from Mahottari.
The local administration has been setting up bonfires at various places in order to provide some respite to ordinary people from severe cold. According to a government official, bonfires have been arranged at more than a dozen public places.
The sharp dip in mercury level has also affected agricultural sector.
Agriculturist and Chief of Dhanusa Agricultural Development Office, Vishnudev Yadav, said that the chilling weather has affected the domestic animals and several agricultural productions.
“The week long cold wave has directly affected productions of potato, tomato, onion and wheat,” Yadav said.
He added that the farmers associated with these productions have been directly hit by the adverse weather condition. “If the condition does not improve soon, the farmers are bound to suffer huge losses this season,” said Yadav.
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