The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Sirajganj

Unprecedented cold wave during the last few days has almost halted normal life in this district town. Severe cold wave coming from the Himalayas has made lives of the dwellers, specially the homeless people of this small town, miserable. At least 12 people have been attacked with various cold related diseases, lutensity of cold worsens after mid-day and turns extremely unbearable in the evening. Every day, fog covers the town until 8 to 9 AM and vehicles ply in the streets with their headlights on. Although the sun appears for a while around 10 AM, but if soon disappears.

Last Monday morning drizzles made things even worse. Destitutes are trying to combat this bitter wave through heat generated from burning heaps of straws and old rubber tyres. On the other hand, second hand warm clothes sellers are making best use of this situation and earning handsomely by raising the prices two and even three times. Disease like fever cough, cold and dysentery have also alarmingly increased.

The only government hospital is crowded with bronchitis and a asthma patients. But the hospital is short of oxygen and do not have the "loboliser machine." As a result distress and sufferings of the patients know no bounds. The owners making good use of this abnormal situation have doubled prices of life saving 'Salbutamol inhalers."

Severeness of cold in this small district town situated near the Jamuna river is usually bitter than other areas of the country, which usually deteriorates in December and January. Observers feel that this cold will worsen further during next few weeks. Cultivation of winter crops, particularly potato is facing damage from this unnatural cold.

Although some voluntary organisations have come forward with warm clothing for the destitute, but this is extremely meagre compared to requirements.

Authoritative sources believe unless the government and the well-to-do section of the country come forward with necessary arrangements for distribution of sufficient warm clothes for the homeless people in this area, possibility of loss of life from this bitter and severe cold may not be ignored.

People here are crowding winter garment shops, sellers display varieties of warm clothes in shops. Many vendors are also selling garments including old ones, on footpaths and in public places. A large number of make shift shops have also sprung up in SS Road, Jam-e- Mosque area. Station road area, court premises are Bahirgola area But prices are comparatively high this year, local residents said.