Malnourished children, who are under medication at the Nutrition Rehabilitation Home (NRH) in Rajbiraj-based Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital, have been hit hardest by the cold wave conditions.

Seven malnourished children from impoverished communities have been shivering in biting cold due to lack of warm clothes at the NRH. Their attendants are also struggling in the shivering cold. 

Rashmi Jha, manager at the NRH, said that the children and their attendants have been severely affected as thin blankets and quilts are not enough to beat the “bone-chilling” cold in the area. 

“We need additional quilts and blankets immediately to protect the children,” she said.

Saptari is the district worst affected by the ongoing cold wave. Twenty-seven people have died so far in the district this winter. Normal life has been affected as the cold wave coupled with thick fog continued to envelop the area. 

According to Jha, all seven children at the NRH are suffering from cold diarrhoea. Doctors at the Gajendranarayan Singh Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital have been providing treatment to the children, she added. 

“We have managed an electric heater but it is not enough to protect the children if the cold spell continues. We don’t have budget to make further arrangements. We are barely managing nutritious food for the children. We have urged the higher authorities to manage warm clothes immediately,” said Jha.   

Cold wave claims three more lives Two persons, including a minor, died of severe cold in Saptari district on Saturday, taking toll caused by cold wave in the district to 27.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Dhruba Kumar Shrestha, two-year-old Shivam Pasawan of Rupani Rural Municipality-8 and Sugawati Sardar of Dakneshwori Municipality-8 died of cold in the district. 

Meanwhile, Dhanusha police said cold wave claimed a four-month-old boy, the son of Manju Yadav of Dhanushadham Munici-pality-9 three days earlier. 

The cold wave has affected various Tarai districts for the past few weeks. About 50 people have died of cold wave across the country this winter.