Residents in Jashore shiver in cold as mercury drops

Jashore is currently experiencing an intensifying winter, with the Meteorological Department forecasting rainfall on Thursday to alleviate the chilling conditions that have persisted for several days. 

The minimum temperature in Jashore plummeted to 10.6 degrees Celsius at 6 am on Monday, with the sun not appearing until 11:30 am. The region's inhabitants, both human and animal, are enduring the brunt of the severe winter, characterized by persistent fog during the nights and mornings, compounded by the prevalence of a frosty northern wind.

January, on average, stands as the coldest month according to the Met Office, closely followed by December in terms of winter severity. This January, however, has surpassed all previous records, marking it as the coldest month to date. Consequently, the populace has limited their outdoor activities to only urgent needs, with dwindling city dwellers' presence after evening hours. 

The Meteorological Office in Jashore has indicated that until gusty winds or rain disperse the dense fog, the sun will not be able to alleviate the winter's grip. Moreover, they anticipate cloud accumulation across various parts of the country next Thursday, potentially leading to widespread rainfall.

Meteorologists attribute the surge in fog prevalence to a higher December temperature, which abruptly dropped by 4 to 5 degrees Celsius come January. This rapid temperature fluctuation has resulted in a substantial increase in fog, hindering sunlight from reaching the ground. Over the last few days, minimum temperatures in numerous regions have plummeted by 8 to 10 degrees Celsius, exacerbating the sense of wintry discomfort.

The Meteorological Department has identified four districts where cold currents are flowing, namely Rajshahi, Panchagarh, Chuadanga, and Dinajpur, with Jashore being directly impacted. Due to the dense fog and wind, temperatures have further declined. The destitute in Konkan are enduring ceaseless suffering from this unyielding winter, enduring day and night hardships.