CHUADANGA, Dec 14: Thousands of poor, ultra poor and rootless people are suffering from cold wave due to lack of necessary warm clothes as moderate cold wave is prevailing across the district.
Biting cold, dense fog and bone-chilling wind have crippled normal life in Chuadanga.
The meteorology (Met) office in the district recorded lowest temperature at 9.8 degree Celsius on Friday and 9.2 on Saturday at 6am.
Rakibul Hasan, senior weather observer of the Met office, said, the temperature may fall in coming days.
In the morning the total district town is being blanketed with dense fog. Things remain invisible in 15-12 feet distance till 11 am.
Engine and battery run vehicles are plying on road with headlights on. Few people can go out from home for only urgent need.
Many school, college and office goers are suffering immensely as they have to wait for a long time for vehicles. Farmers are very worried. Vegetables growers can't market their produce.
Said Akamol Hossian, a farmer of Kulchara Village in Sadar Upazila said, Boro farming may be hampered as the seedbeds are being prepared.
Many rickshaw and van-pullers can't drive their vehicles. Passengers are thin on roads.
"I can earn a poor income. It is too poor to run my family. I can't run vehicle due to lack of warm clothes'' said a rickshaw puller Hafizur Rahman of Hazrahati Villlage.
Middle class and poor income men and women are crowding roadside second-hand markets to purchase warm clothes.
But prices of second-hand clothes have increased by Tk 50 to100 than one week back.
Floating and distressed people in the morning and night are trying to fight with the chilling cold by burning straw, papers and dry leaves.
Children and elderly persons are attacked by cold diseases including pneumonia, bronchitis, diarrhoea, dysentery and jaundice.
A total of 60 cold patients have been admitted to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital against 15 seats in the last three days. The accommodation problem is very acute, hospital sources said.
Doctor Mahabubur Rahman Milon, consultant in the Paediatric Department in Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, said, over 200 cold patients are taking medical treatment everyday from the Outdoor.
"We have allocated 10,000 blankets for poor affected people. Besides, some warm clothes are distributed among the poor and distressed people. We called upon all affluent people to extend their helping hand to mitigate the sufferings of the distressed cold affected people', said Mahammad Jahirul Islam, deputy commissioner of Chuadanga.
