SURKHET: The Karnali State has not witnessed improvement in the weather for a week. There is continuous snowfall in the upper hilly and mountainous region while rainfall in the hilly area.

The continuous snowfall and rains have brought severe cold, thereby hitting hard the normal life here. People in Humla, Dolpa, Mugu and Jumla districts have been braving the cold.

Assistant Chief District Officer in Humla, Dattaraj Hamal said that people were bound to face acute cold.

They are suggested not to leave the district and travel far so as to protect themselves from a chilling atmosphere. The snowfall has also disrupted the telephone service for two days.

The snowfall in the upper belt and rains in the lower area has caused a complete halt to vehicular movement.

Even the air service is closed for a week. The drinking water is changed into ice, which breaks the water pipes in Humla, Dolpa, Mugu and Dolpa, said the locals. A local from Chandannath-8 of Jumla informed that it was difficult for them to have drinking water as it quickly turns into ice.

The ice blocks need to be melted for water.

Adding woes, most of the youths leave villages for employments every year while the elderly citizen, women, children and those with disabilities are bound to live in sheer adversity, said Nar Bahadur Raut from Tila rural municipality.

Normal life has been badly affected due to chilling cold at higher belts of Dailekh, Kalikot and Jajarkot districts as well.  Schools in Surkhet, Dailekh, Salyan and Rukum West are facing a tough time to run teach learning activities. However, officials are found making a fire in office premises to avoid cold.

Chief District Officer (CDO) of Jumla Durga Banjada shared that the administration had urged all to stay inside the homes in leisure time and go out by wearing thick clothes.

The mercury in Jumla was recorded minus 3 degree Celsius on Friday.  Karnali Health and Science Institute Jumla’s Director Dr. Mangal Rawal said that they had urged the locals to stay in warm places and eat hot foods.

Chief at the Meteorological Forecasting Division Office in Surkhet Binod Parajuli shared the snowfall may occur on Monday again.