The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Normal life remained affected and vehicular traffic hampered as the cold wave coupled with dense fogs continued sweeping over the northern districts in the sub- Himalayan region for the third consecutive day yesterday.

Though the maximum and minimum temperatures remained almost unchanged during the past 24 hours till last evening, the overall cold wave marked some deterioration due to thick layers of fog in the air.

Very few people were seen out of their houses while the day-labourers and farm workers worked under adverse condition in the crop fields due to biting cold coupled with densely foggy air almost throughout the day.

The movement of vehicles on roads and highways was seriously affected from 9 PM on Friday night to 9 AM on Saturday morning as thick layers of fog totally covered the air reducing visibility to less than 10 to 15 metres.

The vehicles were found plying with their headlights on the roads and highways to avert accidents almost throughout the day yesterday.

The sun was seen only for a while last afternoon and the situation again started worsening from the evening when the public places started becoming deserted in Rangpur and adjoining northern districts.

The common people in Rangpur, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Bogra and adjoining districts on the Brahmaputra and Ganges are badly exposed to the cold wave and foggy weather.

Sufferings of the char people living in char villages of Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Bogra and Sirajganj districts on the river basins mounted due to dense fog and blowing of cooler and stronger winds from the north and northwestern directions.

Met Office recorded the minimum temperature at 13 degrees Celsius yesterday against 12.1 degrees on Friday at Rangpur while the highest temperate dipped to 24.6 degrees against 25.7 degrees Celsius in the town on Friday.

According to the Met Office sources, the situation may improve during the next few days and another cold spell might come in the last week of January in the sub-Himalayan region.

The armed forces, joint forces, BDR, police, district administrations and dozens of non-governmental and charitable organisations have intensified distribution of warm clothes among the distressed people everywhere in the sub-Himalayans northern districts, officials said.