Bangladesh cold wave claims 50

Bangladesh cold wave claims 50
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

DHAKA, JANUARY7: The death toll from Bangladesh's cold snap rose to 50 with 21 overnight deaths as weather officials said on Friday that low temperatures were expected to continue for another two days.

The mass circulation Ittefaq newspaper said severe cold had claimed 50 lives mostly in the northern regions with children and elderly people being the main victims.

The overnight deaths were reported from northern Panchagar, Nilfamari, Kurigram, western Kushtia, Iswardi and central Comilla districts.

An official in Dhaka's meteorology department said despite "moisture incursion" from the Bay of Bengal, the cold snap was likely to continue until Sunday.

This winter's lowest temperature of 5.6 degrees celsius was recorded on Friday in south-eastern Shatkhira district, with blinding fogs keeping temperatures down during the day.

The official BSS news agency said 61,000 blankets along cold weather clothing were rushed to the north and south-eastern hill regions for urgent distribution.

Thick fog continued to blanket the country, disrupting domestic and international flights, and road, rail and ferry services while homeless people set fire to piles of garbage to keep warm.

At least six people were killed on Thursday when a bus collided with a speeding truck in thick fog in central Aridpur district.

Elsewhere, doctors reported a sudden surge in cold-linked illnesses, including asthma and influenza.