Ludhiana chokes as residents breathe in dust

LUDHIANA: With city remaining covered under a thick blanket of dust, residents have started complaining about the respiratory, cough, asthma and eyes-related problems.
The doctors are receiving patients with chronic lung diseases, severe cough, bronchial asthma and many other problems. The air quality index (AQI) level of the city was recorded at 336 on Friday evening, which is though better than Amritsar and Patiala, but still poor. However the doctors are advising not to move outside if not necessary. If one needs to go out at all, he or she must cover his or her face with a mask.

Dr Ashok Gupta, chest physician and consultant at CMC hospital, said there is three times increase in the cases of COPD and bronchial asthma due to this dusty weather. In the coming days, the number will increase all the more if the weather remains same. He said it has triggered the alarm bells for the asthmatic patients, who are now unable breathe properly. Such patients generally come in the months of March and April. But, the weather took a bad turn and patients have once again started coming in June.

Meanwhile, D R Rajesh Mahajan, MD medicine at DMC hospital has advised people to avoid going outside. Especially, the senior citizens, heart patients and small kids are more vulnerable to the situation. He said people should even avoid going out for morning walks. They should not allow children to play outside either. Dr Mahajan also said due to this dusty weather, there is a rise in chest and cough problems. He said people should wear masks while going out and N-95 mask is the best for the purpose. In case one cannot purchase this mask, they should double a simple mask.

Eye specialist Dr G S Dhami said eyes are one of the most sensitive and hence, the easily-affected parts during the current situation where the dust-cloud is engulfing us with immediate symptoms like grittiness, watering, redness and foreign body sensation. In fact, at OPDs in hospitals nowadays, around 50% of the patients walk in after being affected by the current environmental conditions. He advised people to use protective eye gears while travelling, and to seek medical attention if any of the above mentioned symptoms appear.

Meanwhile on Thursday, the lone Air India flight from Sahnewal airport to Delhi was also cancelled due to low visibility. There was no flight on Friday either. The airport authorities are now keeping their fingers crossed for improvement in weather, so that a flight could arrive on Saturday. The airport manager A N Sharma said there was almost zero visibility and therefore the flight was cancelled. But for Saturday, they are hopeful of getting some respite from this dusty weather.

Even the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has also issued advisory and orders for stopping the construction activities in the city including the patchwork on roads. The sand or soil must not be carried in the trolleys openly. The players, athletes and senior citizens should not go for morning and evening walks. The patients particularly asthmatic and heart and eyes patients must stay indoors. Parents are advised not to let their children play outside. People are also advised not to travel long distances in open trolleys and trucks.