The death toll owing to freezing cold in Saptari district, northeast of Nepal, has reached to 21 on Friday, local newspaper reported on Saturday.

According to the offcial newspaper The Rising Nepal, many of the victims are from Dalit and poor community.

More than five dozes of patients visted the local Sagarmatha Zonal hospital for treatment for cold related complications, The Rising Nepal reported, citing Lal Kishor Singh, a doctor in charge of the emergency service of the hospital as sources.

"Due to lack of beds at the hospital, the doctors are conducting treatment to the patients who have been lying on the hospital floor." Singh said.

Singh added that small children were suffering from cold diarrhoea, pneumonia and fever owing to sharp fall in temperature at the district.