Cold wave claims 9 lives in southern Nepal

KATHMANDU, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The spell of cold wave has claimed at least nine lives in southern Nepal's districts of Terai region bordering India in the past two days, media reports said on Saturday.

Six people died of freezing cold in Saptari district and three in Rautahat district, mostly children and elderly people, Republica Newspaper reported referring local authorities.

"The unbearable cold could be the most probable reason for all of these deaths," Ranjit Kumar Jha, senior consultant at Gajendra Narayan Singh Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital, said.

Cold wave in Terai districts of the southern plains of Nepal has badly affected daily lives, halting regular activities including closure of the academic institutions. Enditem