ZCZC
BSS-44
COLDWAVE-NORTH (with picture)
Season’s lowest 5.1 degrees Celsius temp in Tentulia
RANGPUR, Dec 31, 2018 (BSS) – Normal life remained
affected in the northern region as the season’s lowest
temperature of 5.1 degrees Celsius was recorded today at
Tentulia in Panchagarh causing untold sufferings to the
people.
The mercury level dropped at most areas during the past
24 hours ending at 6 pm today again forcing the common people
to remain indoors due to bone-chilling cold exposing the
poorer and elderly people and minor children to intense
miseries.
Officials at Rangpur Met Office said the country’s
lowest temperature of 5.2 degrees Celsius was recorded today
at Tentulia monitoring point in the sub-Himalayan Panchagarh
district at 6 am.
However, the situation remained mostly unchanged in
Rangpur city where the minimum temperature of 10 degrees and
maximum of 25 degrees were recorded today.
Besides, the minimum temperatures recorded today were
7.5 degrees Celsius at Dinajpur, 8.2 degrees at Syedpur, 8
degrees at Dimla and 8.1 degrees Celsius at Rajarhat point in
Kurigram in the region.
Thin layers of fogs amid blowing cooler winds from the
western and north-western directions gave most parts of the
extreme northern region darker as well as deserted looks
since the evening.
Local residents said extremely cold weather dulled the
businesses aggravating sufferings of those living
particularly on the sandy char areas in riverine areas on the
Brahmaputra basin.
The number of patients with cough, fever, asthma and
other cold and climate change related diseases continued
increasing today like during the past couple of days.
Director of Rangpur Medical College Hospital Dr Ajay
Kumar Roy said there are adequate stocks of medicines and
steps have been taken in government hospitals, health
complexes and other facilities to provide proper treatments
to cold-related patients.
Side by side with the district administrations,
voluntary, professional and socio-cultural organisations,
business bodies and other institutions have intensified
distribution of warm clothes among the cold-stricken people
to mitigate their sufferings.
Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram Sultana Pervin informed
the national news agency that the Ministry of Disaster
Management and Relief already allocated 30,000 pieces of
blankets for distribution among the cold-hit people of the
district.
“We have already allocated 42,000 pieces of blankets,
including our previous stock of 12,000 pieces, in favour of
all nine upazila administrations and distribution of those
among the cold-stricken people is progressing now,” Sultana
added.
Talking to BSS, Horticulture Specialist of the
Department of Agriculture Extension Khondker Md Mesbahul
Islam said the prevailing weather might affect normal growth
of Rabi crop plants, including potato and Boro seedbeds, if
the situation deteriorates further.
“Transplantation of Boro rice seedling is currently
being hampered as the farm-labourers are failing to conduct
normal activities amid shivering cold in the region,” he said
adding that there is enough time ahead for the purpose.
Reports reaching here from the remote areas said
sufferings of thousands of people living on the sandy char
areas in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha,
Nilphamari and other adjoining districts on the Brahmaputra
basin further mounted today.
BSS/SPL/MI/BZC/1935HRS