The lowest temperature of the county on Friday dropped to 8 degrees Celsius at Dinajpur, exposing the poor, elderly people and children to intense miseries there as elsewhere in the northern region.
Met Office sources said the minimum temperatures marked slight falls at most places in the last 24 hours ending at 6 am today affecting normal life and adding misery to common people.
Besides, the minimum temperatures recorded on Friday were 10 degrees Celsius at Rangpur, 8.2 degrees at Saidpur, 8.3 degrees at Tentulia, 8.2 degrees Celsius at Dimla and 8.5 degrees Celsius at Rajarhat monitoring points in the region.
Meanwhile, the maximum temperatures marked little fluctuations at most places and remained between 23.4 degrees and 24.4 degrees Celsius at 4 pm on Thursday in the region.
The sun appeared in the sky penetrating the thick layers of fog and clouds at 11 am in the northern region bringing little relief to common people today like in the previous few days.
Like in recent days, dense layers of clouds and fog amid blowing cooler winds continued causing a chilling cold, exposing the poor, elderly citizens and minor children to extreme miseries from last evening till 11 am on Friday.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr Habibur Rahman said doctors continued to treat a higher number of people with cough, fever, asthma and other cold- related diseases at the hospitals and health facilities today like everyday in the last one week.
“We have taken special measures at the government-run health facilities to treat cold-related patients, including babies and children,” he added.
Officials at the government-run hospitals, Upazila health complexes and community clinics said the number of patients with cough, fever; asthma and other cold- related diseases continued increasing today like in recent days.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Abu Jafar said the government through the district administrations has further intensified distribution of warm clothes to cold- hit distressed people in all eight northern districts of Rangpur division.
At the same time, different voluntary, professional, sociocultural and charitable organizations, trade bodies and other institutions have been extending their assistance and standing by cold-stricken people with warm clothes to mitigate their sufferings.
Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension for Rangpur region Agriculturist Mohammad Shah Alam said special assistance is being extended to farmers in taking proper care of growing Rabi crop plants and Boro rice seedlings to save those from cold injuries.
“However, transplantation of Boro rice seedlings continues despite the sweeping cold wave in the region,” he added.
