At least 16 children have reportedly died in the past six days till Saturday from cold, diarrhoea, pneumonia, and other cold-related diseases in Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
Besides, over 300 children have been admitted to the hospital. Relatives said that many are forced to sleep on the floor without getting space in the hospital's children's wards.
On the other hand, hundreds of affected children from neighbouring districts including Rangpur city and their mothers were found waiting outside the hospital in long queues in front of the children's department since morning.
They said that due to the severe cold, the children have come to the hospital for treatment for various diseases including cold, diarrhoea, pneumonia, and cold virus infection, which is making them seriously ill.
The doctors on duty outside said that they were turning away patients except for the seriously ill ones due to a shortage of beds in the hospital.
In this regard, doctors on duty in the children's wards 9 and 10 of Rangpur Medical College Hospital said that they made it clear that they cannot speak without the permission of the director of the hospital.
Later, when the director of the hospital Dr Yunus Ali was contacted, he said that during the winter season, children are arriving at the hospital with various diseases, many of whom are being treated outdoors. However, those in serious condition are being admitted.
Dr Yunus highlighted that the number of patients in the children's wards exceeds the available beds. He added that in addition to the 16 deaths from cold, diarrhoea, and pneumonia in the past six days, around 20-25 patients die daily without treatment due to various diseases in the hospital.
As winter intensifies, he advised against taking children outside the house unless necessary.
The Rangpur Meteorological Office reported that the lowest temperature in Rangpur on Saturday was 10 degrees Celsius, the lowest in this winter season.
