Online Desk: In the northern district of Kurigram, daily life has been severely disrupted by a cold wave accompanied by dense fog for the past five days. The extreme weather has led to a significant increase in health emergencies, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and low-income communities.

Hospitals in Kurigram are witnessing a daily surge in patients suffering from diarrhea, pneumonia, shortness of breath, and other cold-related illnesses. “The number of cold-related patients, including those with diarrhea and pneumonia, is on the rise,” reported Dr. Nazmul Islam, Resident Medical Officer of Kurigram General Hospital. He noted that most patients are from the more exposed char areas and that “children, women, and the elderly are more affected.”

The dense fog enveloping the region from evening till morning forces residents to stay indoors, significantly impacting daily activities. Road traffic is heavily affected, with vehicles needing headlights even during daylight hours to navigate the thick fog. Rashid Miah, a local construction worker, describes the hardship: “Hands and feet become like ice when engaged in work. Fog is descending like rain at night and in the morning. Everyone who earns their livelihood daily is suffering.”

Kurigram’s Rajarhat Meteorological Office recorded morning temperatures hovering around 10-11 degrees Celsius, with predictions of no immediate rise in temperature until rainfall occurs. Subal Chandra Sarkar, a weather official, warns of the possibility of a cold wave sweeping over the district this month. The impact of the cold is notably more severe in chars within the district, with temperatures having fluctuated around 9.13 degrees Celsius over the past two weeks.

The relentless cold spell in Kurigram exemplifies the urgent need for adequate measures to support the affected communities, particularly as healthcare facilities face increasing pressure from the rising number of weather-related illnesses.