Firewood distribution begins in Mahottari as cold wave intensifies
Mayor Sah noted that despite this effort, additional support is still urgently needed in poor and vulnerable settlements affected by the ongoing cold wave.
KATHMANDU: As the cold wave continues to worsen, the executive office of Bhangaha Municipality in Mahottari has begun distributing firewood logs across local settlements to provide immediate relief from the biting cold.
According to Mayor Sanjeev Kumar Sah, firewood distribution started on Monday at public squares, markets, community shelters, and government offices across all nine wards of the municipality. “The cold has become severe. We started distributing firewood as an emergency relief measure. By Monday evening, firewood had been delivered to settlements in all nine wards,” Mayor Sah said. “This will provide at least some relief for people to keep warm during the cold wave.”
The distribution is being carried out with the support of a team that includes personnel from the Armed Police Force base camp in Bhangaha. Firewood logs are being placed at various locations, where fires are lit to help residents warm themselves.
Mayor Sah noted that despite this effort, additional support is still urgently needed in poor and vulnerable settlements affected by the ongoing cold wave.
He has appealed to social organizations, the District Disaster Management Committee, and relevant state agencies to enhance coordination and extend further assistance.
“Our municipality has many extremely poor settlements, including Musahar and Bantar communities. In this difficult time, these areas need more relief,” he said, urging all concerned stakeholders to come forward.
Locals say they have felt some relief after being able to warm themselves by the fires amid the harsh weather.
The cold wave in Mahottari began on Poush 3 and has intensified over the past three to four days.
While areas along the East–West Highway in Bardibas and Gaushala municipalities in the northern part of the district saw brief sunshine in the afternoons earlier, no sunshine has been visible in the central and southern regions.
Since last Saturday, even Bardibas and Gaushala have remained without sunshine, according to Ward Chairperson Kahar Man Syangbo of Bardibas-5, which borders Gaushala-8.
With dense fog enveloping the district and the cold becoming increasingly severe, demand for firewood has surged across all parts of Mahottari.
