The latest victim of cold wave has been identified as Kari Sardar Bathar, 60, a resident of Shambhunath VDC-6 in Saptari. He died while he was being taken to Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital in Rajbiraj Wednesday. [break]
The other victims of the cold wave were Parmeshwor Sah Teli, 60, of Bavangama Kattii VDC-6, Phoolia Devi, 55, of Madhupur VDC-8, Ramdayal Safi, 45, of Ramnagar VDC-6, and Jhalu Ram, 46, of Daulatpur VDC-8 of Saptari, according to police.
Similarly, many children and elderly in the district have taken ill due to excessive cold. According to the zonal hospital, nearly 35 patients are being admitted to the hospital every day, a majority of them children.
Lal Kishor Singh, a senior assistant health worker at the hospital, said patients coming to the hospital are basically victims of cold-related disease like diarrhea, pneumonia, fever and typhoid among others.
Likewise, the number of patients getting admitted at various health posts and private hospitals in the district is also high, informed District Public Health Office of Saptari.
The cold spell has badly affected life of people residing in eastern and western rural parts of the district as thick fogs blanket the areas throughout the day.
Despite mounting death tolls, authorities concerned appear to be apathetic to the situation. Affacted locals who are without warm clothes complained that the authorities have not taken any initiative to provide them clothes.
Meanwhile, people in Dhanusha district have requested the authorities to shut down all private and community schools in the district saying that the cold wave prevailing in the Tarai for the past two weeks would affect students´ health.
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