At least 20 people, nine of whom are children, have died in Chuadanga from cold stroke, pneumonia, respiratory problems and other cold-related health issues in the past week.
People are suffering from several cold-related diseases as a moderate to severe cold wave is sweeping over the district.
The Chuadanga Sadar Hospital has seen a growing number of patients coming in to the medicine, paediatric and diarrhoea wards throughout the past week. Sources at the hospital said more than 100 patients are currently admitted in the hospital for treatment as of Saturday.
“Children and elderly people are especially vulnerable to the cold,” said Dr Selima Akhter Simu, medical officer at the hospital.
In the past seven days, around 1,300 children, women and men received treatment for cold-related health issues at the hospital's outdoor department.
Among them, 20 people including nine children succumbed to the diseases.
Among the children, two died from pneumonia, and the rest died from other cold-related diseases.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, locals said the severe cold was heavily disrupting day-to-day life in the district.
“The sun is almost always invisible because of the fog. The fog is so thick that it almost feels like rain,” said one of the locals.
Some of the lowest temperatures this winter were recorded in Chuadanga. On Sunday, the lowest temperature in the district was recorded at 8.5ºC.
Locals have been flocking to thrift stores to buy second-hand warm clothes, as they come in cheap prices.
Thursday, March 27, 2025
