20000107

BD cold toll rises to 23

DHAKA: A cold snap in Bangladesh has claimed at least 23 lives in recent days and showed no signs of abating, reports said on Thursday.

In a savage 24-hours, 13 weather-linked deaths were recorded across the nation on Wednesday, the UNB news agency said. Most who died were elderly.

Thick fog continued to blanket the country on Thursday as homeless people and the needy set fire to piles of garbage to keep warm.

Flights of Dhaka's Zia International Airport were delayed and seven scheduled international landings were Wednesday diverted to Myanmar, officials said.

The weather also disrupted road, rail and ferry services.

"Last year winter never came and I guess people were not prepared for such a biting winter," a shop owner said as he reported a surge in the sale of winter clothing.

As the lowest temperature plummeted to 6.2 degrees Celsius in northwestern Ishwardi district, meteorologists said the cold snap would continue for several more days. AFP