People in Rajshahi region are experiencing a hot spell amid a drought-like situation with an average 38 degrees Celsius temperature for the last couples of days and absence of rainfall for a long time.  Sufferings of the people, especially  day labourers, rickshaw and van pullers, construction workers, masons and street vendors, have turned miserable due to day long hot spell without respite. With no traces of rainfall or even a spec of cloud in the sky for over one week, people are being forced to remain indoors and are not daring to come out except for emergencies during daytime. As a result, an adverse impact of trade and business is also been noticed in the district. The weather of Rajshahi has turned extreme during the recent days. Blockage of natural flow of the river Padma and other common rivers through erecting barrages across the border, unplanned use of underground water for irrigation purposes, unabated felling of trees, non-excavation of ponds, tributaries and water bodies have incurred a huge toll on environment and now the people of the region are facing their impact. There is no rainfall from locally produced cloud because there is no surface water available in Rajshahi district for vaporisation and forming of cloud and rainfall locally excepting the rainfall during the monsoon. Due to the same reason, the heat of the region has increased tremendously. The temperature in Rajshahi is ranging from 36 to 38 degrees Celcius during this week with no hope of release with rainfall soon, hinted sources in Meterological department in Rajshahi. The Met office source said the temperature might further rise in the days ahead. The sufferings of the elderly people, children and the students knew no bounds.
Rajshahi Medical College Hospital sources informed the number of patients being attacked with diarrhoea, jaundice and viral fever has nearly doubled during the last couple of weeks. People are being increasingly attacked with heat related diseases like high blood pressure, sun stroke, kidney ailments and various skin diseases, RMCH sources mentioned. Sources at Rajshahi Livestock office said the domestic animals are also suffering from diarrhoea, storke, salivation, dysentry and dehydration due to extreme heat.  Absence of green grass as fodder has increased their diseases. They further informed that both domestic fowls and farm reared fowls have decreased food consumption and increased water consumption due to increased heat hampering their growth and laying of eggs. The situation will not improve until there is sufficient rainfall, source added. Almost all ponds and tributaries of the region have dried up and the scarcity of fish has turned acute in the district. On Saturday to Tuesday last, the highest day temperature in Rajshahi was fluctuating between 38 to 38.2 degrees Celsius respectively.
According to Rajshahi Met office, the highest temperature was recorded in Rajshahi at 42.8 degrees Celsius on
June 2, 2005.