Beware! Cold, dry weather is preying on the vulnerable

No rains in Lahore until December 4; medics advise caution, especially for asthmatic, elderly, children

Picture source- REUTERS

With the mercury dipping and persistent dryness, the number of people suffering from weather-related diseases may rise in Lahore and other parts of Punjab, doctors have warned.

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said that there was no forecast of rain till December 4, while temperatures would continue to decrease, which could cause dryness. Many hospitals and clinics have already observed an increase in patients who were coming with breathing problems, skin infections and airborne diseases.

The provincial capital has been in the grip of high levels of air pollution for the last several days and has not received any rain, which could help decrease the air pollutants.

An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official has said that the city was observing a high level of toxic pollutants in the air, which caused weather-related diseases among citizens. The EPA had already informed other departments regarding the air quality of the city.

“EPA can just measure the air quality and give recommendations while taking measures to protect the citizens is the responsibility of other departments,” he said, adding that amid the current situation, rain could provide respite by washing down the toxic pollutants. It has been observed during the last few weeks that the persistent dryness has caused a rise in the number of people getting flu and cough.

Talking to Minute Mirror, physician Dr Muhammad Rauf said that the current weather had caused up to a 50 percent increase in the number patients visiting hospitals and clinics daily. He said that these patients complain of ear, nose and throat infections, which were caused by high levels of toxic chemicals in the atmosphere.

“Asthma patients and children are the most vulnerable in such weather,” Rauf said, suggesting that children, elderly and asthma patients must be provided extra care.

He said that the government must declare a state of emergency in hospitals as the situation may worsen in the coming days. He cautioned that the accumulative pollutants in the atmosphere due to the lack of rain, would encourage smog formation during the period.

PMD Director Muhammad Aslam Chaudhary said there was no rain forecast for Lahore and other parts of Punjab before December 4, while the dry and cold weather would persist until then.

Talking to Minute Mirror, he said that due to the lack of rain, there was a chance of increase in air pollution, which could lead to health problems for the citizens.

“Besides humans, such weather can also affect animals and agriculture sector,” he said.

Samiullah Randhawa is a correspondent covering environment, climate change, food, water and ecology. He is an International Center For Journalists alumnus and a fellow at Kettering Foundation Ohio, USA. He has won two Agahi Awards for reporting on climate change and water crisis. He tweets @sami_randhawa and can be reached at [email protected].