More than three persons have died so far as the mercury dips lower in Bermo. During the last 72 hours Bermo coal belt has been in the grips of cold wave. The deaths due to excessive cold have been reported from Gomia and Nawadih blocks of Bermo. A 46-year-old man, Gorakh Manjhi, Ramdas Manjhi (55) in Gomia block and Banshi Manjhi (45) of Nawadih block have died from cold. Dense fog in the morning, heavy rain, and cold waves has paralysed normal life in Bermo and the surrounding areas during the weekend.
The streets have wore a deserted look throughout the day as people preferred to stay indoor ,while some were seen warming themselves around bonfires arranged by the district administrationa and an NGO. According to records of the weather department of the Bokaro thermal on January 12, the minimum temperature in Bermo coal belt reached 4 degrees, which according to available information ,was the lowest recorded so far .
After sunset the entire market places in different locations of Bermo wore a deserted look in the evening. Manjit Bhatia, who owns a readymade garment shop, says “Ever since the cold wave started, the visit of customers to my shops in the evening hours recorded a sharp decline”. The villages surrounding Bermo like Khetko, Kanjkiro Hasanapani, Upparghat, Pannk, lukubad, Pichari, Nayabasti and others remainded deserted due to cold wave and heavy rain.
The worst affected people are residents of Phusro,Gomia, Chanderpura and Bokaro thermal areas, most of whom do not have their own home. The slums–dwellers of the Bokaro and Phusro, small vendors at the Jaridih bazaar and the poor living near Kanjkiro, Pillpiloo, Kathara and Bokaro thermal railway station.