Patna: As many as 15 lawmakers in Bihar fell sick and were in hospital over the past 48 hours as a cold wave that swept across the state badly affected normal life.
Most of the assembly members were suffering from cold, diarrhoea, coughing, stomach ache and fever.
The story came to light after the lawmakers related to various political parties made a beeline for treatment at a government hospital located in the state capital on Tuesday.
Doctors advised them to protect themselves from the cold and rest until they recovered.
Doctors said this was the first time in this year that so many lawmakers had fallen sick at a time after getting exposed to cold.
“We don’t recall having seen so many lawmakers coming to us at [one] time,” Dr P.P. Sinha, the officer-in-charge at the hospital, who treated the lawmakers, told journalists on Wednesday.
He said they had arranged stocks of medicines, keeping in mind the increasing number of patients rushing to the hospital for treatment.
The continuing cold wave sweeping across the state, meanwhile, has badly affected normal life in Bihar, with the meteorological department predicting a further dip in the mercury next week.
“The state will face severe cold in the next one week owing to the western disturbances,” state metrological director Dr A.K. Sen said. The situation has further worsened after a light rain fell on the region a few days ago.
The state government has already directed educators to change timings for schools to ensure children are not exposed to harsh weather.
The administration has also taken steps to arrange bonfires at various pockets in the state capital and distribute blankets to the poor. So far, no cold-related death has been reported to the authorities.
