Cold snap kills 110 in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Jan 8: At least 20 people died of cold in northern Bangladesh in the past 24 hours, taking the confirmed death toll in just a week to 110, officials said today.

The victims, mostly beggars and homeless, died as the mercury dropped to 5 degrees Celsius (41 Fahrenheit).

Temperatures at this time of year usually hover around 8-10 Celsius.

The weather office said the cold snap that began last Monday was likely to ease a little in the next two days before temperatures dropped again at the weekend.

Hospitals have been crowded with people, mostly children, suffering from cold-related diseases, an official of the government's health directorate said.

Reuters