Winter arrives early in Panchagarh as temperatures drop to 15°C
Photo: Agamir Somoy
In the north, winter has now clearly set its foot. Morning fog, chilly winds, and the cold that intensifies as soon as evening falls - all combined, a distinct mark of seasonal change has begun in Panchagarh.
Although there is warmth during the daytime, the feeling of cold increases as the night deepens. Working-class people stepping out for work at dawn are feeling winter’s arrival.
On Monday at 6 am, the Tetulia Weather Observatory recorded the minimum temperature at 15 degrees Celsius. On Sunday, the temperature was 16.5 degrees Celsius, meaning the temperature dropped by 1.5 degrees Celsius within a 24-hour interval.
Visiting various areas in the morning showed the sun gradually peeking out through a light veil of fog. Defying the morning chill, day laborers, tea and stone workers, farmers, and van drivers were rushing to work for their livelihoods, with many wearing shawls and winter clothes as the morning chilly wind began affecting public life.
Van driver Robi Islam said, “When taking out the van in the morning, it feels much colder than before. Especially when traveling at dawn, the chilly wind hits the body. However, once the sun comes up, it feels a bit warm again.”
Tea worker Abdul Khalek added, “When going to work in the tea garden at dawn, it feels colder. Previously, one could go to work wearing thin clothes. Now, one has to go out wrapped in a shawl or warm clothes in the morning.”
Locals shared that compared to daytime, the temperature drops rapidly during the evening and night. Under cold winds blowing from the north, cold is felt from late night until dawn, prompting many to start using quilts and blankets at night.
Beyond the weather, the touch of winter has also begun influencing local life and markets, where seasonal pitha (rice cake) stalls are popping up in various places. As evening sets in, markets come alive with arrangements of vhapa, chitoi, and pakan pitha, bringing back the familiar winter vibe of rural Bengal with the aroma of rice cakes as vendors grow busy with crowds of buyers.
Due to its geographical proximity to the Himalayas and Kanchanjunga mountain ranges, the feel of winter arrives somewhat earlier in Panchagarh compared to other regions of the country. The feeling of winter that starts in late October escalates further from mid-November, with the severity of cold felt most intensely in December and January.
Meanwhile, due to the temperature gap between day and night and changing weather patterns, the risk of winter-related illnesses including cold and cough among children and the elderly is rising.
Locals noted that many children and elderly individuals are seeking medical treatment for colds, coughs, pneumonia, and diarrhea, creating an immediate need for families to exercise caution regarding health protection at the very onset of winter.
Tetulia Weather Observatory Officer-in-Charge Jitendra Nath Roy said, “Due to the location close to the Himalayan mountains, Tetulia’s temperature has started decreasing under the influence of chilly winds and light fog. At 6 am on Monday, humidity in the air was 100 percent. With this, the feeling of cold is gradually increasing.
