Severe Cold Wave Hits Chuadanga, Thousands Stay Indoors

Chuadanga has been gripped by an intense cold wave, with the sun remaining out of sight for three consecutive days due to dense fog and cloudy skies. The prolonged absence of sunlight, coupled with a light but chilling wind, has significantly increased the severity of winter, confining lakhs of residents to their homes. Although the sun briefly appeared around 10:00 am on Monday, the cold persisted throughout the day. The district recorded a minimum temperature of 11.7 degrees Celsius on Monday morning, while air humidity stood at 95 percent. 

The ongoing cold spell has led to a sharp rise in cold-related illnesses, particularly among children and the elderly. Cases of colds, coughs, fever, respiratory problems and diarrhea are increasing alarmingly. During a visit to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, it was found that 89 patients were admitted to the diarrhea ward, far exceeding its capacity of 30 beds. Of the admitted patients, 80 were children. Hospital records show that 129 patients were admitted the previous day.  Hospital Superintendent Dr. Bidyut Kumar said the rise in diarrhea cases is mainly due to rotavirus infections. He advised people to drink safe water and remain in warm environments.

The harsh weather has hit low-income and daily wage earners the hardest. Dense fog continues to fall like drizzle even during the day, forcing vehicles to operate with headlights on for the past two days. Human movement on the streets has noticeably declined. On Sunday night, Chuadanga Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Kamal Hossain distributed blankets among distressed and cold-affected people as part of relief efforts.

Kalam Hossain, a mason from Eidgah Para in Chuadanga Municipality, said he was struggling to work in the biting cold. "My body is shivering due to the intense cold and wind, but I have no choice. If I don't work even for a day, I won't be able to afford food for my family," he said. Rickshaw puller Saidur echoed similar concerns, saying passenger numbers have dropped sharply due to the cold. "People are not going out, so we are not getting enough passengers. It has become very difficult to run our families," he said.

Daily wage laborer Sattar Ali said the situation has worsened due to the lack of sunlight. "In the severe cold, it becomes very difficult to go to work in the morning. But if we don't work, it's impossible to survive," he added. Chuadanga Meteorological Office Officer-in-Charge Jaminur Rahman said the cold intensity has increased over the past few days due to persistent cloud cover. "There has been almost no sunlight, though the sun appeared on Monday morning. If the clouds clear, the temperature may drop further," he warned. He also said that the decreasing gap between maximum and minimum temperatures is making the cold feel more severe across the district.