National
Cold wave sweeps Tarai districts
Life in central and western Tarai districts was affected as cold wave swept the region causing temperatures to plummet on Sunday.Life in central and western Tarai districts was affected as cold wave swept the region causing temperatures to plummet on Sunday.
Temperatures in the districts like Banke, Bardiya, Rupandehi and Chitwan plunged sharply as the cold wave coupled with fog took hold from early morning, throwing life out of gear. These districts saw very little sunshine on Sunday because of fog.
There were fewer people at marketplaces and the traffic was comparatively thinner. Many vehicles were seen plying the road with their headlights on.
In Bardiya, the flood displaced families, who have been living in temporary shelters, were greatly affected by cold wave.
Cold wave started unexpectedly early in the region this year causing sharp drop in temperatures, said Rita Mahato of the Nepalgunj field office of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.
She said the temperature of Nepalgunj, which is one of the most hottest places in the country, took a nosedive because of cold wave.
The Banke District Administration Office urged the people to try to stay indoors as much possible during cold wave.
The office has put cold wave on the list of natural disaster as it could cause deaths.
Meanwhile, all flights to and from Rajha and Gautam Buddha airports in Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa were cancelled due to fog while Bharatpur Airport had to be closed after 3 pm. The Nepalgunj branch of Civil Aviation Authority Nepal said all regular and chartered flights were cancelled because of poor visibility.
(With inputs from our district correspondents)