The cold snap claimed the lives of four senior citizens in Bagerhat in two days. There is an outbreak of cold related diseases and dense fog disrupted the district’s ferry services again. New Age correspondents in Khulna reported, four elderly people died in Morrelgonj upazila unable to bear the biting cold. The deceased included M Nurul Islam (85) of Sankibhanga, Chehara Begum (68) of Guabaria, Arabjan Bibi (87) and Amena Begum (89) of Baroikhali in the same upazila. Morrelgonj upazila Health Complex resident medical officer Ashim Kumar Samadder confirmed the deaths and said that there is an outbreak of cold-related diseases in the entire upazila. He said that at least 123 patients, men, women and children, from the upazila were under treatment at the health complex. Respiratory problem, asthma and pneumonia are common problems, he said. The northern districts are also witnessing an outbreak of cold related diseases over the last few days. According to the New Age correspondents in Rajshahi and Kurigram, around 250 patients were admitted to hospitals in last few days. Kurigram Sadar Hospital resident medical officer Nazrul Islam told New Age that 141 patients, 60 of them children, took hospital admission Sunday to seek treatment of cold related disseases. Until now, he said, at least 800 patients had taken treatment of cold related diseases. Kurigram Civil Surgeon Lokman Hakim said a control room had been opened to tackle the situation. Leaves have been cancelled and the officers and staff have been kept on alert, he said. He also said that 85 medical teams were formed to provide treatment at the field level. New Age Rajshahi correspondent reported, at least 100 patients including children and elderly people took admission in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in last few days to seek treatment of cold related diseases. Rajshahi Medical College Hospital assistant register of Paediatrics department Prodish Kumar Bishwash said that there was a huge rush of child patients suffering from cold-related diseases. Dense fog has been disrupting normal life and business, and communication. Dense fog slowed down the movement of inter-district buses and other vehicles. Thick fog disrupted the ferry and launch services between Paturia and Daulatdia for 11 hours creating huge traffic jams on both sides of the river Padma.