Increasing cold has put life of Karnali region out of gear, with people's movements largely restricted. The temperature plunged to minus 4 degree Celsius on Tuesday.

Children, poor and elderly people have been affected in particular. So people have started suffering from cold induced diseases. Those who can afford temporary migration have left or are leaving to lower lands in a bid to escape the cold. Local shops have also witnessed a slim flow of customers.

There is a pressure of patients of pneumonia, asthma and fever at the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, following the increasing cold, Jumla, said Dr Pujan Rokaya.

The cold has caused freezing water pipes, which in some cases, burst. The Karnali farmers are worried about their crop plantation due to lack of rains. Production of winter crops may decrease this time due to lack of timely rains, said senior agriculture development officer Bharat Prasad Kandel.