Diwali firecrackers seem to have taken a toll on the health of Mumbaikars! According to reports, pollution levels rose significantly in Mumbai during Diwali and the city hospitals are now seeing a surge in patients with respiratory illnesses cases. Read on to know more about this.
City Hospitals See A Surge In Respiratory Issues
According to The Indian Express, hospitals in Mumbai have witnessed a surge in cases of respiratory illnesses. Hiranandani Hospital saw a 50% rise in patients with respiratory cases since Diwali. As per the doctors in the hospital, asthma exacerbations, bronchitis, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are quite common during Diwali due to the bursting of firecrackers.
Dr Mihir Gangakhedkar, consultant pulmonologist at Fortis Hospital, told The Indian Express that they have witnessed a 10% rise in respiratory issues over the last two weeks. People also experience allergic rhinitis due to high pollution levels and toxic air. Some of the symptoms of this are runny nose, sneezing, and throat irritation.
Many of these cases were reported from densely populated areas like Dharavi. Due to poor ventilation, the respiratory issues aggravate. It is important to understand that this spike in pollution does not only affect people with respiratory conditions but also healthy ones.
Also Read: Delhi AQI Surges To Hazardous 507 Just Days After Diwali, Exceeding WHO Limits By Over 65 Times
Pollution In Mumbai Rises, AQI Slipped To ‘Poor’ During Diwali
As per the Central Pollution Control Board’s SAMEER app, amid Diwali celebrations, Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI) on Saturday was 208. This was the highest AQI reported in the city in 2024. On Sunday, the AQI improved and fell into the ‘moderate’ category with 157. However, this rise in pollution in Mumbai has severely impacted the people and their health.
Also, the rising temperatures in Mumbai complicate the pollution issue here. Reportedly, the city will see a maximum temperature of around 35°C and a minimum of about 26°C over the next few days. Cooler seasonal temperatures with high pollution can be a nightmare for people with asthma and COPD.
Share your two cents about the pollution issue in Mumbai in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: Flickr (representative image)
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