Shawdesh Desk:

3,254 hospitalised in 24hrs, cold wave likely to continue for 3 more days

At least eight children died of cold-related diseases in four districts under Rangpur division in the first three days of January taking to 63 the death toll from such diseases across the country since November 1, 2024.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, 3,254 people were hospitalised with cold-related diseases––2,441 with diarrhoea and 813 with other diseases––across the country in the past 24 hours.

A mild cold wave kept sweeping over the Rangpur division and Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Naogaon and Kushtia and it might continue for three more days, the Met Office said on Friday.

The DGHS reported 55 deaths so far since they began recording  data of casualties from cold-related diseases on November 1.

The DGHS data, however, did not include the deaths of the eight children in the past three days.

Rangpur Divisional Health director Harun Ur Rashid said that at least two children died of cold-related diseases in the past 24 hours.

Eight children have died of cold-related diseases since Wednesday in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur and Kurigram, he said.

He added that four people were burnt to death in the past 10 days in the districts.

The children who died of cold and cough in the past 24 hours are Mithu, daughter of Ashraful of Kulaghat, Lalmonirhat, and Milan, son of Mostak Mia of Ichli village, Gangachara, Rangpur. The other six children who died at Rangpur Medical College are Faisal, Niloy, Sumi, Amir, Minal, Sifat, said Rangpur Medical College Hospital director Brigadier General  Ashiqur Rahman.

He also said that 18 people were undergoing treatment at the hospital for burn injuries.

The Met Office said that a mild cold wave was sweeping over the Rangpur division and the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Naogaon and Kushtia.

The cold wave might continue for three more days, the Met Office said.

The Met Office recorded the lowest temperature at Tetulia on Friday at 8.2 degrees Celsius.

The adverse weather conditions have been affecting many people, especially the low-income groups such as agricultural labourers, daily wage earners and rickshaw pullers, who earn their living from working outdoors.

It forced people to stay indoors, affecting businesses and other daily activities.

The number of patients, especially the elderly and children, suffering from various cold-related diseases is increasing at hospitals and clinics.

About 280 children and 150 adult patients with cold-related diseases were undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital on Friday.  In addition, 490 more patients were treated at the hospital’s outpatient departments in the past week, said the RMCH authority.

Nirmal Barman, 55, a farm worker from Yakubpur village in Lalmonirhat Sadar, said that it was becoming difficult for them to continue working in the crop fields as the bitter cold wind continued blowing for the past few days.

People from Rangpur, Kurigram, Panchagarh and Nilphamari are also facing the same situation.

Lalmonirhat deputy commissioner Rakib Haider said that the district administration already distributed 20,800 blankets and Tk 2 lakh were allocated for each of the five upazilas for distributing blankets and quilts among the cold-stricken people.

‘We are also requesting the well-off people to help the poor and needy people,’ he said.

The Panchagarh deputy commissioner said that 27,200 blankets were distributed among the needy people in the district.

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha on Friday reported that the government allocated more than TK 33.87 crore from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to procure blankets.

Besides, 15,250 pieces of blankets were distributed from the ministry among the cold-affected distressed people in 14 northern districts at the outset of the winter season, said a release of the ministry.

Apart from this, about 6,79,000 pieces of blankets have been procured from the chief adviser’s relief fund which have already been distributed.

The cold weather alongwith the chilly wind has disrupted the normal life of the people in Barishal region, reports New Age correspondent in Barishal.

The sun has not been seen for the past two days.