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Severe heatwave paralyses 22 districts, as 40 others suffer sweltering weather

Highest 43.8°C recorded in Jashore followed by 43.7°C in Chuadanga, 8 more die

Published : Wednesday, 1 May, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 574
Staff Correspondent
The lives of people have become unbearable in such fierce weather as the ongoing heatwave has spread to almost 40 districts across the country. Of the districts, severe to very severe heatwave is sweeping in at least 22 districts including the districts of Khulna and Rajshahi divisions and the districts of Dhaka, Tangail, Faridpur and Gopalganj.

The countrys highest temperature of 43.8°C (degrees Celsius) was recorded in the southwestern district of Jashore on Tuesday afternoon while the second highest temperature 43.7°C was recorded in Chuadanga.

Meanwhile, the highest temperature in Dhaka was recorded at 40.5°C, according to Abul Kalam Mallick, a meteorologist at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

Due to the very severe heatwave, some eight people have died on Tuesday, according to the reports from our correspondents.

While talking to media, Kalam Mallick confirmed that 43.8°C was the highest temperature recorded in Bangladesh this year.

On Monday, the countrys highest temperature was recorded in Chuadanga at 43°C, till then the years highest temperature. At that time, the temperature in Jashore was 42.8 degrees Celsius.

According to the statement of the Met office, Rajshahi sizzled in 45.1°C temperature on May 18, 1972, after the independence of the country, the highest in recorded history of Bangladesh.

Kalam Mallick also predicted that it may rain in between May 2 to 7.

Our correspondent from Gazipur reports that due to excessive heat, the rail line was bent at Pubail Arikhola on the Dhaka-Narsingdi route at Tuesday afternoon.

Quoting Tongi Junction Station Master Rakibur Rahman, the correspondent reports that the rail line was bent around 1:00pm due to excessive heat.

In-charge of Tongi Railway Station Police Chhotan Sharma told media that train movement on the route is normal through another line. The railway officials were working to repair the rail line.

Our correspondent from Chuadanga reports that the poor, ultra poor and working people of Chuadanga district are suffering greatly due to the heat wave as the temperature has broken 30 years record.

On Tuesday, the local Met office recorded countrys highest temperature 43.7°C in the district at 3:00pm. The Met office of Chuadanga recorded the highest temperature of the country in the last three consecutive days.

Peoples life has become very miserable in such fierce weather. The heat wave and hot winds crippled peoples life in the district.

Zaminur Rahman, District Meteorology Officer of Chuadanga, said the temperature may remain unchanged in coming days in the district and may also rise in the district. "There is no likelihood of rain in Chuadanga in the next three days."

Due to scorching heatwave, most people went back to their houses as soon as possible while most people refrained from going out at day time.  At noon the total district town looked almost deserted. Few people ventured out on emergency, but returned home soon.

Many market and office goers suffered immensely as they had to wait for long for vehicles, because the number of transports were a few on the roads amid the heatwave.

The rickshaw and van pullers were worried due to lack of passengers in the prevailing weather. Many rickshaw and van pullers could not drive their vehicles and spent idle time in shade from the glaring sunlight.

 "Its too hard to maintain family expenses for me today as I have earned poorly due to the hot weather" said rickshaw puller Shukur Ali, a resident of Bujruk Gargaripara of the district.

On the other hand, children and elderly people were being attacked with heat related diseases like diarrhoea, fever, dysentery and jaundice and heat stroke in the district, according to hospital sources.

Dr Waliur Rahman, Senior Consultant (surgical) of Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, said, "In such weather we all should not go out without urgent need and drink more water and fruit juice, serbet and green coconut water. We must also take extra care of our health."

"Farmers of the district are facing great problem as irrigation cost is increasing rapidly in such weather for keeping their vegetables from withering. Most of the vegetable fields are turning yellow due to water crisis or have been burnt by the ray of the sun," said Laltu Miah, a farmer of Jafarpur village under Sadar upazila.

Meanwhile, green coconuts are being sold in the district at higher prices. Per piece green coconut is being sold at Tk 100 to Tk 120 whereas it was sold at Tk 70 to Tk 80 three days ago.

Deputy Commissioner of Chuadanga Dr Kissinger Chakma said that heat alert has been announced across the district and primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and Madrasas remained closed due to acute heat wave till next Thursday.

He called upon all not to go out without urgent need in such hot weather.

Bangladesh sees prolonged heat wave as the Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Tuesday forecast that severe heat wave now sweeps over parts of the three divisions including Dhaka and very severe heat wave scorches several north, southeast and southwestern parts of the country.

"Very severe heat wave is sweeping over Jashore, Chuadanga, Pabna and Rajshahi districts and severe heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka division and the rest part of Khulna and Rajshahi divisions," the BMD said, adding, "Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Barishal, Rangpur and Chattogram divisions and the district of Mymensingh as the heat wave with different intensities may continue."

It forecast that rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is also likely to occur at one or two places over Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with hails at isolated places, said a BMD release valid for next 72 hours from 9:00am on Tuesday.

Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, it said, adding, the day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Due to increase of moisture incursion, the discomfort may persist.

Meanwhile, operations at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases were halted for two days due to the breakdown of the air conditioning system in the ICU and issues with the supply of oxygen to the operation theatre due to the intense heat.

However, these issues were resolved yesterday.

According to our correspondent, at least eight people died on Tuesday possibly from heatstroke in different areas of Natore, Nilphamari and Munshiganj amid the sweltering heat across the country.

In Natores Naldanga upazila, a man Khairul Islam, 50, of local Kahjura Ujanpara died at heatstroke.

A returnee migrant Kahirul was working at his maize field and at one stage he became sick and fell on the ground. Local people took him to the local hospital, where the doctors declared him dead.

According to Dr Khurshed Alam of local community clinic, he has died of heatstroke.

In Nilphamari, four people have died possibly from heatstroke. The deceased were identified as Lal Babu, 52, of Sadar upazila, Manir Hossain, 52 of Dimla upazila, Mansur, 55 and Khodeza, 65 of Jaldhaka upazila of the district.

All of them suddenly fell sick and died while working under the open sky amid the intense hot weather, said Jaldhaka Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ashraful Haque.

Local Met office recorded 42°C temperature in the district on Tuesday.

In Munshiganj, two elderly people have died after falling sick due to the extreme heat. The deceased were identified as farmer Omar Ali, 65, of Mollar Char, and Abdul Baten Majhi, 68, of Manikpur of the district.

Talking to media, Dr Shoibal Basak In-charge of Munshiganj General Hospitals emergency department, said, "They were brought dead around 11:00am. The reason of their death is likely to be heatstroke."

In Dinajpurs Ghoraghat a housewife, Rahela, 45, wife of Abdul Hamid of local Chuniapara died in heatstroke. She died while working in the field during the intense heat.



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