Thick fog with cold wave disrupts life

Normal life in Lalmonirhat, especially slum and Teesta and Dharla river basin areas, is badly disrupted due to thick fog accompanied by biting cold waves for the last couple of days.

Many people, mostly children and elderly persons, have fallen victim to cold related diseases like diarrhoea and pneumonia in the last few days.

Low income group people, mainly farm labourers and people living in slums, are the worst sufferers as most of them cannot go out for work due to the biting cold.

Besides, those who live in Teesta and Dharla river basin areas or nearby are passing their days in despair due to warm clothes crisis.

Dr Hafizur Rahman, child diseases specialist at Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital, said on average, he provides treatment to 80 minor kids every day at the hospital.

Seventy-four-year-old widow Moniza Bewa of Shahid Shajahan Colony in the town said they have been burning straws for warming themselves as they do not have the ability to buy warm clothes from the market.