A heat wave pushing mercury upwards and lack of rain despite high humidity across the country have started taking its toll due to dehydration and heat related problems. In Dhaka city, which recorded a maximum temperature of 36 Degrees Celsius and a minimum of 28.7 Celsius did not have a drop of rain despite high humidity, leaving the citizens in difficulty to cope with the situation due to dehydration, causing problems with sudden upsurge in intestinal troubles.
The emergency unit of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), also known as Cholera hospital at Mohakhali, saw a surge in patients arriving with heat related problems due to dehydration and drinking of contaminated water and consumption of stale food.
The hospital received 372 patients, mostly children and elderly till 7:00pm on Tuesday. There had been 309 patients during the same time on Monday, which saw a jump from 281 patients on Sunday, Dr Russel, duty doctor, at the hospital told The Independent on Tuesday.
He said most of the people had become sick due to drinking of contaminated water, mainly Sherbets and fruits from wayside vendors and stale foods.
The heat has left the food stale, particularly those who has no way to preserve the food.
Besides, frequent power outages, due to load-shedding had also its contribution in making the food stale.
Meteorologists at the Dhaka Met office said, despite arrival of the south western Monsoon, heralding the rainy season on Tuesday fanning all over Bangladesh, rains were skimpy despite high humidity, the capital did not experience a drop of rain.
Only the coastal areas had some rains like 44 mm in Kutubdia, seven mm in Cox’s Bazar, five mm in Chittagong. Otherwise, most parts of the country went dry till 6:00pm on Tuesday.
However, rains are likely to sprinkle over the next two days, the meteorologists said.
The met forecast for the next 24 hours beginning at 6:00pm on Tuesday said, thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely over a few places in Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Rangpur and Dhaka divisions with moderately heavy falls at places. The heat wave sweeping over Rajshahi, Rangpur and Sylhet divisions and the regions of Dhaka, Tangail and Kushtia may continue.
The day and night temperature may remain unchanged over the country, the forecast added.
-With The Independent input
