COLD WAVE DEATHS REACH 12 IN NEIGHBOURING SIRAHA Kathmandu, 31 Dec.: Number of people dying due to cold has reached 12 in Siraha district, RSS reports from Siraha.. Of them, one is a child, six elderly women and five elderly men. Locals said six persons including a minor died at Itariprasahi VDC in Siraha district in the last six days due to the sudden fall in mercury. Mostly, dalit children and elderly persons lost their lives in the VDC due to cold as they could not manage warm clothes, said Sumitra Mandal, a teacher. Similarly, one elderly man and two elderly women died in Sakhipur VDC due to excessive cold, said VDC Secretary, Drabeshwor Das. Likewise, two people lost their lives in Jamdaha VDC and one in Tergena Govindapur VDC due to cold. Transport services, the market, factories and educational institutions in the district have been affected due to dense fog and cold wind. According to the District Agricultural Development Office, blight disease has been seen in potato crop and leaves of mustard and bean plant are drying due to the cold wave. Number of patients suffering from various cold-related illnesses visiting health institutions in the district has gone up. Mostly, children and elderly persons have been affected by the cold. The people here have demanded that the government provide warm clothes to the poor, women and children, who have been affected by cold for lack of warm clothes. RSS Nnnn PROTESTS OPPOSING ABUSES AGAIINST FEMALES CONTINUE FOR FIFTH DAY Kathmandu, 31 Dec.: Rights groups are continuing their protests against abuses tarketing girls and women for two hours in front of the prime minister’s residence Monday. Protests are continuing for the fifth consecutive day. nnnn