DHANGADHI, Jan. 13: The cold wave in Kailali for the last three weeks has severely affected the freed Kamaiyas in various parts of the district.

Five Kamaiyas died during the last nine days at the Kamaiya settlement at Damaura of Malakheti VDC because of excessive cold, it is learnt from the NGO Backward Society Education (BASE). 
The number of patients suffering from respiratory complications, asthma, coughs and pneumonia has started increasing because of the cold.

According to the medical superintendent of Mahakali Zonal Hospital Dr. Krishna Kumar Rai, 60 percent of the 300 or so patients visiting the hospital daily come for treatment of asthma, cough and pneumonia.

Meanwhile, the cold has adversely affected the raising of livestock and poultry. Output of milk and eggs has declined considerably. The cold wave has affected the winter crop of vegetables. According to the local meteorological office, the average temperature here today was 6.4 degrees celsius.