Meanwhile, patients suffering from the cold, hypothermia, pneumonia, bronchitis and typhoid are flocking hospitals in larger hordes. Lal Kishor Singh, emergency ward incharge at Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital in Rajbiraj said they are receiving 20-25 children suffering from cold-related diseases on a daily basis. He said most of the patients coming in were either children or the elderly.

Likewise, officials at the District Public Health Office in Saptari said all primary health posts as well as sub-health posts in Rajbiraj are witnessing a steady rise in the number of patients affected by the cold. Chief District Officer and District Disaster Relief Committee Coordinator Birendra Prasad Yadav said people need to take special precautions to combat the cold waves. The District Police Office said one person has died due to cold in Saptari district. Similarly, temperatures plummeted in Kapilvastu and primary health centres in Taulihawa, Pipara and Bahadurgunj and Maharajgunj are witnessing a surge in the number of people suffering from cold-related health problems.

Dr Pawan Agrahari of Taulihawa Hospital said more than 100 patients, mostly above 50 years and below five years of age, visited the hospital in the past four days.

Meanwhile, 45-year-old Chanbariya Kumar of Hatpate-9 of Kamalakhoj area died due to severe cold on Thursday night, Hedambaraj Adhikari, technical assistant at the VDC, said. The area has been affected by severe cold over the past one week.