After six days in a row, the northern districts have been freed from the grip of the cold wave, but the cold wave has caused other medical issues in the region. In the last one month, at least 50 people have been admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital after being burnt in the fire. Among them, Shamshunnahar died on January 7 and Abeda Begum and two others died on January 13 while undergoing treatment. At present, 18 burn patients are being treated at the hospital.
In the middle of the winter season, moderate cold wave have been passing over Rangpur region. Public life is disrupted by mild and moderate cold wave. As the winter intensifies, so does the misery of the uprooted people. In the morning and in the evening, many people try to prevent the cold by lighting fires in the villages. In order to escape the severity of the winter, people usually gather around fire to take the warmth of the fire. During that time, many become victims of burn incident.
MA Hamid Palash, an assistant professor in the hospital's burn and plastic surgery unit, said most of the patients were burned at the stake to warm up from the cold. Such incidents take place in different areas of Rangpur region every winter season. At present burn patients are being treated in different wards of the hospital including burn unit. More than 25 women and children were burned to death in the winter last year. Besides, the pressure of various cold-related patients including diarrhea and pneumonia has increased in different upazila health complexes including Rangpur Medical College Hospital. The number of patients in hospitals has also increased compared to the last few days.
According to the meteorological office, the lowest temperature of the season was recorded in Rangpur on January 26 at 8.0 degrees Celsius. At the same time, Rajarhat in Kurigram recorded 6.2 degrees Celsius and Tentulia in Panchagarh recorded 6 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in other districts also fluctuates between 7 and 9 degrees Celsius. As a result, the people of the north, especially the low-income people, became paralyzed by the extreme cold.
The people of the region saw the sun on Thursday after a few days of continuous cold wave. As the sun rises and the wind speed decreases, the intensity of winter also decreases. Rangpur recorded a low of 12.6 degrees Celsius and Dinajpur a low of 10.9 degrees Celsius. However, the Meteorological Department has forecast rain within 48 hours. After the rain, the temperature may drop again. However, the lowest temperature recorded in the country on Thursday was 7.5 degrees Celsius in Tentulia.
