LAHORE - Excessive pollution and severe cold has caused considerable increase in weather related diseases especially among children and elderly people.
Accumulation of hazardous pollutants in the atmosphere coupled with cold has provided favorable conditions for growth of disease causing virus and bacteria.
The experts have advised the people to wear warm cloths, cover heads while going outside, take fruit, balanced diet and increase fluid intake to save themselves from diseases.
“Skin dryness and allergy, common cold, pain in joints, respiratory tract infection, fever, cough and flu are on the rise due to the prevailing conditions”, said family physician Dr Abdul Rauf. He advised extra care for asthma patients, elderly people and children having weak immunity.
“Avoid sharing handkerchief, towel and blanket with those already ill. Take multivitamins for increasing immunity. Apply moisturizers on skin for avoiding dryness and rashes”, he said, adding, medicines and multivitamins should be taken after consulting qualified doctor.
“Large scale construction activity and traffic congestion has considerably increased pollution level. The situation will remain the same as no significant rain giving system is approaching the country during the next 2-3 days”, said meteorological expert Shaukat Ali Awan.
Meanwhile, dense fog and severe cold continued disturbing routine life in plains on Friday. Experts have forecast the prevailing harsh weather conditions to persist during the next 2-3 days.
Less visibility and severe cold disrupted road, air and rail traffic besides causing low gas pressure in major cities including Lahore. Low visibility caused closure of portions of Motorway besides hampering vehicular movement on inter and intra city routes including National Highway.
Closure of Motorway caused difficulties for the motorists who left with no other option except to use alternative routes including National Highway. Low visibility hampered vehicular movement on National Highway, from Kharian to Sukkur.
Less visibility affected flight operation at Lahore Airport besides disturbing schedule of trains.
Lesser period of sunshine due to foggy conditions, snowfall over the hills and winds caused considerable decrease in the mercury level, increasing chill in the weather during the day and at nighttime.
Skardu remained the coldest place in the country where mercury dropped 08 degree Celsius below the freezing point. Minimum temperature in Kalat, Gupis and Quetta was recorded -07C, Parachinar and Astore -05C. Maximum and minimum temperature in Lahore was recorded 20C and 04C respectively. Relative humidity in the evening was recorded 49 per cent.
Excessive usage of heaters in the offices and at home led to low gas pressure in various parts of Lahore. In certain areas, women faced huge difficulties in cooking meals for their families.
According to the experts, shallow westerly wave is present over northern parts of the country and likely to persist during next 12 hours.
Local meteorological department has forecast mainly cold and dry weather for most parts of the country including Lahore during the next 2-3 days.
Foggy conditions are expected over plains of Punjab and upper Sindh in the morning and at night during the period.