DHAKA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The sweeping cold wave claimed around 18 lives in seven districts of Bangladesh while scores of others fell sick across the country in the last 24 hours till 8:00 p.m. Saturday, raising the death toll from the chilly weather to 113.

    According to private news agency UNB reports, six people died of cold and cold-related diseases in Jessore district, 140 km southwest of capital Dhaka in the past 24 hours till 6:00 p.m. Saturday.

    In Thakurgaon district, 330 km northwest of Dhaka, four people died in the last 24 hours.

    Meanwhile, local hospitals and clinics have been swamped with patients affected with cold-related diseases.

    In Jhalakati district, 130 km south of Dhaka, three people died of cold Saturday morning.

    Two more people died of cold Saturday morning in Panchagarh district, 360 km northwest of Dhaka, raising the death figures in the district from cold to 25 in the past one week.

    One person died of cold Saturday morning in Sirajganj district,110 km northwest of Dhaka.

    In Kishoreganj, a middle-aged man died of cold and many more were affected by cold-related diseases Saturday.

    An old man of Faridpur district, 60 km southwest of Dhaka, died of cold early Saturday.