BANKE: Nepalgunj, one of the major cities in Banke of Province 5, is enduring scorching heat for the past few days.

The rising temperature has already started taking its toll on children who have largely suffered from seasonal flu, viral fever, and other related illness.

Bheri Hospital’s pediatrician Dr. Pratima Khadka said they receive over 50 children in the outpatient department (OPD) with complaints of fever, common cold, diarrhea, and intestinal issues. Of them, four to five are recommended for hospitalizations.

Doctors prescribe the use of masks, hand-washing before attending and feeding them, drinking plenty of clean water and intake of liquid food, avoiding exposure to heat, staying indoors, maintaining cleanliness, and following hygienic habits so as to prevent risks of heat illness among children. It takes four to five days to recover from seasonal flu.

Child specialist at Care City Hospital, Nepalgunj, Dr Bishnu Kumar Thapa said they are seeing seven to eight children with common cold and viral flu issues each day. As he said, schools are expected to suspend classes for some time to control cases of heat-related illness among the children.

Nepalgunj Kanti Arogya Hospital’s child specialist Dr. Roma Bora said 15-20 children with heart illness visit the hospital each day for treatment. Most of them are aged three to eight.

Most of the schools in Nepalgunj now remain closed owing to increasing temperature. This leave will be adjusted through the summer leave, it is said. The Nepalgunj sub-metropolis said the local government has already directed schools within the locality to shut down for some time.

Other local levels are preparing to go on summer leave. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepalgunj said the temperature here reaches up to 40 degrees Celsius in summer.