Cold wave deaths in the southern plains of the Himalayan Kingdom have been increasing every day with four more deaths reported in Udayapur and Saptari districts Wednesday, published media reports in the last four weeks have revealed.

Though at least three or four deaths due to extreme cold have been reported every alternate day in the last three weeks, the Home Ministry has not yet come up with the exact figure of the number of deaths.

The cold weather sweeping across the southern plains has crippled normal life resulting in cough and fever among the different age groups of the population. Fifteen children of the ex-Kamaiyas who were freed from bonded labour by the Deuba led government died due to extreme cold in Bardiya recently.

Prime Minister Chand in the wake of protests from the ex-kamaiyas has formed a task force, which has been entrusted with the responsibility of paying on-site visits to the western Tarai districts having concentration of ex-Kamaiyas.

The task force has been asked to forward recommendations regarding the necessary relief measures that can be given to the ex-Kamaiyas.