Mild cold wave triggered by fog likely to continue for 2 days
The sub-continental ridge (region of high barometric pressure), usually formed in the center of the Indian subcontinent during winter, moved eastward and caused a drop in the overall temperature across the country, disrupting ferry communications on Monday.
Land, air and water communications were less disrupted by the fog, said sources in the transport sector.
The moderate cold wave is likely to continue for a couple of days in some parts of the country including Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka, Khulna and Sylhet divisions and some areas of Comilla, Barisal and Sitakunda, said meteorologists.
‘The fog due to the sub-continental ridge may cause further fall in temperature in some places,’ meteorologist Bazlur Rashid told New Age on Monday evening.
The lowest temperature in the country was 7.8 degree Celsius recorded in Chuadanga on Monday while the highest was 25.8 at Sitakunda.
Light to moderate fog may occur in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions and the river basins of the country, said the meteorological office on Monday evening.
The lowest temperature in the capital was 12.4 degree Celsius on Monday compared to 16.4 degree on Sunday. The highest temperature was recorded at 17.5 degree on Monday compared to 23.5 on Sunday.
Ferry services on the Mawa-Kawrakandi and Paturia-Daulatdia river routes were disrupted due to dense fog on Monday, causing thousands of passengers to suffer on both sides of the rivers.
The ferry service on Mawa-Kawrakandi route was suspended for about six hours and on the Paturia-Daulatdia route it remained suspended for one and half an hour.
The New Age correspondent in Munshiganj reported that ferry services on the Mawa-Kawrakandi route resumed at around 10am on Monday after 6 hours of stoppage due to dense fog.
Sources said that dense fog engulfed the Padma River since late night on Sunday. No searchlight was powerful enough to pierce the fog.
At least five ferries remained stranded on the rivers due to thick fog that hindered plying of the ferries for six hours.
Additional security was ensured by deploying a large number of policemen in the area as hundreds of vehicles, waiting for the ferries, remained stranded on both sides of the river.
The New Age correspondent in Manikganj reported that dense fog disrupted ferry service on the Paturia-Daulatdia river route for about one and half an hour on Monday.
BIWTC sources said that the ferries and launches were stranded from 7:00am to 8:30am.
Several hundred vehicles were stranded at Paturia and Daulatdia ferry ghats.
Some ferries, including Shah Paran and Shah Jalal, laden with vehicles and passengers had to anchor in mid-river till the fog cleared.
Several ferries also remained stationary at Paturia and Daulatdia ferry ghats, waiting for the fog to clear, said BIWTC sources.
Ferry services resumed at about 8:30am after the fog cleared.
Our correspondent in Barisal said that fog is occurring early in the morning but by then all the long-route launches reach their destinations.
Sources at the Hazrat Shahjalaj International Airport said the fog did not disrupt any flights as most of them were scheduled to leave during the day.
Inter-district night coaches also were not greatly affected but had to move slowly due to the fog, said sources.
