Cold cripples life; rain, snowfall lash country

KATHMANDU, JAN 09 - Cold wave has gripped the country since Monday morning resulting in sparse to heavy rainfall in the Tarai and hailstorm and snowfall in high-altitude areas. The weather pattern is likely to continue in the next few days.

Normal life across the country, particularly in the mid-hill districts in the Far Western and high mountains in the Eastern region was affected with disruption in vehicular movement and closure of more than 200 schools. Migration of locals from the higher altitude to the lower areas along with their livestock has been reported in some districts in the high mountains.

Vehicular movement in Bajhang district came to a grinding halt on Monday, while normal life of people living in more than one dozen villages of the district was affected as hailstorm and snow lashed the areas.

Snow as high as four feet covered most of the villages in the district, including Chainpur, the district headquarters. Over 35 schools in the district have closed down until the weather improves.

According to local businesspersons, scarcity of daily food items has hit the locals after donkeys and mules could not be pressed into service due to bad weather condition.

In Palpa, streets started wearing a deserted look with mercury plumetting on Monday morning. Areas including Tansen, Rampur and Chahara recorded a significant drop in the temperature following heavy rainfall. "Most people, especially the elderly and children, have not come out of their homes due to excessive cold," said Bishnu Prasad Kandel, a resident of Tansen.

In Jajarkot, over 150 schools were closed for an indefinite period on Monday after students could not attend classes due to the cold. Over 15,000 children study in these schools.

In Mugu, over 30 families living in the higher altitude in Dolphu, Kimri, Mugu, Daunra and Chitai have started migrating along with their livestock to lower and warmer areas where they will spend the next five months.

The regular flight from Jomsom in Mustang was halted on Monday with hailstorm recorded in 16 villages of the district. Normal life was crippled in the district as snowfall covered the hills.

Snowfall continued in the upper areas of Terathum and Sankhusabha districts on Monday, affecting normal life of locals and hitting trekkers. Trekkers, visitors and locals alike are stranded in the heavy snowfall. Jammed water pipes created a shortage of drinking water in the upper parts of the districts. Schools in the upper regions of the districts have been shut. "We will keep the schools closed until the weather improves," said Buddhi Karki, a teacher at a school in Sankhuwasabha.  

The Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) on Monday reported maximum rainfall in Dipayal measuring 9.7 millimetres. Kathmandu recorded 6.1 millimetres of rainfall on Monday.

"The weather will be cloudy throughout the country with possibility of light showers in the next few days, mainly in the hilly regions," said Rajendra Shrestha, senior meteorologist at the MFD.

With inpu