Six people including four women and children died of cold and cold-related diseases in Kamarkhanda and Kazipur upazilas in the district yesterday, reports our Sirajganj correspondent.

The dead are Rakib Hossain, 10, son of Alam Khan of Nishchintapur village, Rahela Khatun, 6, of Dhopakandhi village, Khodeza Khatun, 50, of Peztola village and Kesmot Ali, 70, of Dogachha village in Kamarkhanda and Amena Khatun, 65, of Chalitadanga village and Alef, 60, of Paikordi village in Kazipur.

A severe cold wave blowing over the region since last week is causing acute sufferings to the people, especially the poor and ultra poor in 16 districts. The children and elderly people of the poverty-stricken families are the worst sufferers due to lack of warm clothes.

Besides, a shroud of dense fog is hampering the road and river communications on different routes in the region.

Road mishaps have marked a rise in the region, especially on Dhaka-Dinajpur Highway. At least 15 people were killed in road accidents last week in Sirajganj alone.

Meanwhile, the hospitals in the district are struggling to provide treatment to an influx of patients of cold related diseases every day.

The district administration has claimed it had distributed 4,000 rugs among the poor on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha. But at present there is no sufficient allocation of warm clothes.

RAJSHAHI

An inmate of Rajshahi Central Jail died of cold at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital yesterday, writes our staff correspondent in Rajshahi.

Sixty-year-old Sohrab of Dogachhi village in Pabna was admitted to the RMCH in December last year as he was suffering from asthma, hospital sources said.

He was jailed for five years in a drug possession case, jail authorities said. They added that necessary measures have been taken to save prisoners from the biting cold.

All the doors and windows of the prison were covered with thick sacks and every inmate has more than one blanket.

GAIBANDHA
Severe cold snap killed four women in the district in the last 24 hours as the ongoing cold wave continued to intensify, reports our Gaibandha correspondent.

The victims are Monwara Begum, 65, of Gabgachhi village in Fulchhari upazila, Jhumri Begum, 46, of Santola village, Laxmi Rani, 52, of Keshalidanga village and Fajitannessa, 55, of Ganga Narayanpur village in Sadullapur upazila.

Meantime, communications between Balashi and Bahadurabad ferry ghats have almost been snapped due to heavy fog. The trouble intensified as the marine department of the railway has closed down its ferry services.

A similar situation prevails in road communications as the entire district was covered with heavy fog until yesterday noon.

The children and elderly people are being affected by different cold related diseases.

JESSORE
Three people died of biting cold in different parts of the Jhikargachha upazila in the district yesterday, reports BDNEWS.

The dead are Abdur Razzak, 54, a peon of Jhikargachha Mohila College, Sheikh Rabiul Haque, 68, former assistant professor of Shaheed Mashiur Rahman Degree College, and Badsha Miah, 70. They hailed from Mohinikathi, Kirtipur and Lainpara in the upazila.

Jessore airport met office sources said the lowest temperature in the district was recorded at 7.04 degrees Celsius and it was 11 degrees Celsius yesterday afternoon.

SHERPUR
One person died of stinging cold in the district yesterday, BDNEWS adds. The victim was a teacher at Jhagrarchar High School in Sribardi upazila. Details were not available.