Winter made its presence felt in full force as the mercury plunged to a bone-chilling 10.3 degrees Celsius in Panchagarh's Tentulia early yesterday, marking the lowest temperature in the country so far this season.

The Tentulia Weather Observatory recorded the temperature at 9:00am yesterday, signaling the arrival of winter ahead of the traditional cold months of Poush and Magh.

Despite sunny skies, the cold was evident.

"The cold sets in after sunset, with gusts of wind from the north," said Sahed Ali, a local resident.

"Even during the day, warm clothes are a necessity," he added.

The pristine skies offered a breathtaking view of the Kanchenjunga peaks, drawing hundreds of tourists to Tetulia at dawn.

"It's mesmerising to see Kanchenjunga in such clarity -- winter adds a unique charm to the view," said one tourist.

However, the biting cold has also brought a surge in winter-related illnesses.

Local hospitals, including Tentulia Upazila Health Complex and Adhunik Sadar Hospital, Panchagarh, are witnessing a rise in cases of fever, cold, asthma, and pneumonia, especially among children and the elderly.

Jitendra Nath, assistant officer at the Tentulia Weather Observatory, said that the temperature had dropped from 11.4 degrees Celsius recorded on Friday morning.

"As winter deepens, temperatures are expected to drop further," he added.

Elsewhere in the region, Dinajpur recorded the country's second-lowest temperature yesterday, at 12.5 degrees Celsius, according to the Dinajpur Met Office.