SHARIATPUR, Apr 21: Diarrhoea disease has turned alarming amid unabated warming in the district, affecting children mostly.
According to local sources, severe heatwave is prevailing in the district, which might be the highest ever in the last 50 years.
So far, more than 200 diarrhoea patients of six upazilas of the district have been admitted to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, upazila complexes, and private clinics and hospitals.
According to meteorological office sources, the highest ever temperature in the last 50 years was recorded at 41 Ddegree Celsius in Shariatpur Sadar on Saturday.
At present, 60 diarrhoea patients are undergoing treatment in Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, 15 ones in Jajira Upazila Health Complex, and 12 ones in Damudya Upazila Health Complex and other health centres.
Shariatpur Sadar Hospital is facing bed-capacity crisis that is six times higher than earlier; most of the patients have been accommodated on floor.
Residential Medical Officer of the hospital Dr Mitu Aktar said, the diarrhoeal menace has increased due to severe heat; and people are also affected by fever and cold diseases.
She advised people not to go out without special needs amid the scorching heating.
Both adults and children are taking bath in ponds for long time to get a bit relief from the scorching heat.
Pedestrians and day-earning people including rickshaw-van drivers and labourers are passing time in roadside shops; they are drinking sugarcane juice and lemon juice.
Shariatpur Sadar Road is almost empty of people; people are not coming out of their residence.
Businessmen in half-clad are passing sitting time in their shops.
A village doctor Abdus Sattar said, "I didn feel such heat in the last 50 years. I can stay in chamber in full time."
LP Gas trader Moklesur Rahman said, "We, the dwellers of Shariatpur have been suffocated due to scorching heat."
