Severe cold grips Kurigram; low-income people hit hard

Kurigram, 23 Jan-Sever cold disrupted daily life in Kurigram in the 2nd week of Bangla month ‘Magh’.

Subal Chandra Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Kurigram Agriculture Weather Observatory, said they recorded temperature at 12.6 degree Celsius at 9am on Thursday.

He also said the temperature may drop further in the next two to three days.

The low-income people, especially those living at chars on the banks of rivers, children and senior citizens are the worst sufferers of the cold.

People were seen to keep them warm by igniting straws.

The sunlight wasn’t seen till 10am in the district while vehicles were operating with headlights on to ward off any unwanted incident.

Moreover, the fog has been spawning drizzle since early morning.

Mukul Mia, a three-wheeler van driver in Dhara area of Kurigram Sadar, said the sun didn’t rise even after 1pm and movement of people was very thin.

Locals alleged that they weren’t getting sufficient warm clothes from the government to keep them protected from the cold.

District’s Relief and Rehabilitation Official Md Abdul Matin said they have so far distributed 34, 722 pieces of blankets in nine upazilas of the district.

The distribution was underway considering the demand, he said.