Fog disrupts communication
Fog at morning disrupted all modes of transport on Tuesday with the Met Office predicting further deterioration in visibility during morning hours over the next couple of days because of dense fog.
On Tuesday, low visibility delayed domestic flights, train services between the capital and northern and southern districts, and forced authorities to suspend ferry services on Paturia-Daulatdia and Shimulia-Kathalbari routes for three hours.
‘Morning fog is likely to thicken as temperatures would remain low,’ meteorologist Abdul Hamid told New Age.
He predicted light rains in the capital and parts of the country including Barishal and Khulna today in the afternoon. ‘Drizzles thicken fog,’ said Hamid.
The Met Office advised river ports to stay alert with movement of vessels between 3:00am and 9:00am over the next two days.
Bangladesh Railway officials said that at least nine trains between the capital and northern and southern districts were running behind their schedules until Tuesday afternoon.
The Lalmoni express was running four hours behind the schedule while the Sunderban express three hours because of fog.
Air traffic officers at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport said that domestic flights scheduled to take off around 8:00am left slightly behind their schedules due to low visibility.
New Age correspondent in Manikganj reported that about 400 vehicles were stranded on either side of the Padma after the ferry service on the river remained suspended for three hours from 5:00am.
BIWTC deputy general manager Zillur Rahman said that three ferries anchored midriver after visibility fell all of a sudden as a blanket of fog enveloped the area.
New Age correspondent in Munshiganj reported that the ferry service on Shimulia-Kanthalbari route was suspended for two hours from 5:30am because of fog.
On Tuesday, the country’s lowest temperature of 6°C was recorded at Tetulia.
The Met Office said that a mild cold wave was sweeping across Rangpur division and the regions of Pabna, Tangail, Gopalganj and Jashore.
The Met Office predicted that the day temperature may fall by 2°C today.
On Tuesday, the lowest temperature in the capital was recorded at 11.6°C.
The country’s highest temperature of 27.1°C was recorded at Teknaf.
The Met Office said that chilly wind blowing at 5km to 10 km speed on an average was adding to the woes of people.
New Age correspondent in Lalmonirhat reported that Rangpur Medical College Hospital Tuesday formed 722 medical teams to respond to cold related emergency health problems in Rangpur division.
The hospital officials said that 31 people died of cold diarrhoea and cold related respiratory problems in the division since November 24.
At least 14 other people were killed after being burnt in hay fire lit by the poor to shield against biting cold, according to RMCH.
The Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room said that 5,947 people were hospitalised or treated at government hospitals across Bangladesh in 24 hours ending Tuesday morning.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net
