Cold wave death toll 24 in Nilphamari, Thakurgaon

Twenty four people have died in Nilphamari and Thakurgaon districts because of cold wave that has been sweeping over the entire northern region for the last few days.

Our Nilphamari correspondent reports: Normal life has been paralysed in Nilphamari owing to intense cold weather.

Cold wave has claimed six people in this northern district within a span of three days till Monday.

The deads are Zafar Mia, 50, of Baraipara, Mohram Ali, 40, of Khoksabari, Nazim Uddin, 50, of Baraibari, Jamir Uddin, 65, Chakiron Bibi, 60, and Abdullah Khalifa, 50 of Polashbari in the Nilphamari Municipality area.

UNB from Thakurgaon reports: The cold wave which is sweeping the district from Sunday claimed two more lives rising the number of cold related deaths to 18.

The dead persons were identified as Samaru Barman, 60, of village Keutan and Ali Mohammad, 65, of Kashipur in Ranisangkail upazila. Normal life has been paralysed in the northern districts due to the severe cold.

BSS from Rangpur adds: Cold wave which is sweeping the eight northern districts in greater Rangpur and Dinajpur zone for last 20 days have paralysed normal life causing immense sufferings to the common people.

Due to biting cold the poor people are worst sufferers who cannot afford to buy warm cloths for abnormal high prices. As a result they are suffering from various cold related diseases. According to local Met office sources temperature fluctuates between 10 to 11 degree Celsius in Rangpur zone while in Dinajpur zone it dropped below nine degree Celsius. Sky almost whole day remained overcast by deep fogs and due to heavy fogs plying of vehicles and rivercrafts are being disrupted. At night situation turns worst. So, most shops, business establishments and traffic movement become very thin due to severe cold.

Rangpur district administration distributed blankets and warm cloths among the distressed people. Besides, 500 pieces of blankets and huge number of warm cloths were distributed by a team of Disaster Management and Relief Ministry. The team distributed those blankets and warm cloths among the floating and poor people sleeping in open places in railway station, Zahaj company, Dhap, central road and Ashratpur.

The team led by DC Manirul Islam also included district BNP president Rahim Uddin Bharsha, ADM Rafiqul Islam, DRO Abdul Mazid, TNO Sadder and BNP office secretary Salequzzaman Saleq.

Meanwhile, the relief goods mostly blankets and warm cloths sent by the instructions of the Prime Minister were distributed among the cold wave hit people in the district. Lions club of Rangpur distributed 100 blankets and 200 pieces of warm cloths among the people of the town.

Besides, Rangpur Chamber of Commerce, some local NGOs and RDRs also distributed warm cloths among the cold hit people of Greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts.