Respiratory woes rise as fog, cold tighten grip on Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 23: An unusual early dip in temperatures, coupled with increasingly foggy conditions, has ushered in the annual “bad times” for patients with chest ailments and those with fragile health. With meteorologists warning of a further deterioration in atmospheric conditions, doctors across Kashmir are bracing for a surge in respiratory complaints.

The Valley’s construction boom, rising vehicular emissions and industrial activity have filled the air with dust, while weeks of dry weather have kept these particles suspended. The rapidly falling temperatures have intensified smog formation, creating what experts describe as a “hazardous cocktail” that affects far more than just the lungs.

Prof Naveed Nazir Shah, Head of the Pulmonology Department at GMC Srinagar, said the prevailing conditions have both immediate and long-term health implications. Acute symptoms include respiratory irritation, runny nose, watery eyes, coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. “The effects are more pronounced in vulnerable people such as children, the elderly and those with asthma or heart conditions,” he said.

He added that the current weather pattern increases susceptibility to heart attacks, strokes, headaches and dizziness. “We see more hospital admissions during peak smog periods,” Prof Shah said. Long-term exposure to persistent pollution, he warned, raises the risk of lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), neurological disorders and even cognitive decline. “There are studies linking pollution to congenital birth defects as well,” he added.

Director Meteorology J&K, Mukhtar Ahmed, said temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir and northern India are expected to dip further in the coming weeks. “Minimum temperatures are likely to drop more, and foggy conditions will intensify,” he said. He noted that the “earlier than usual” temperature decline has led to denser and more widespread fog. This dense fog, he added, traps pollutants close to the ground and sharply reduces visibility.

Prof Shah emphasised the need for urgent corrective measures. “We need strict enforcement of emission standards for industries and vehicles and complete elimination of crop-residue burning,” he said. Pollution, he warned, is much more than a visibility issue. “It is the slow death of vital human systems.”

According to the Meteorological Department, maximum and minimum temperatures in J&K are already 2–3°C below normal, with hill stations recording lows between minus 5°C and minus 6°C. “Even Srinagar has recorded minus 2.7°C,” Ahmed said. He added that the Valley is likely to see a further temperature drop from November 22. This winter, he said, is expected to be more severe than usual across northern India, with shallow to dense fog posing serious challenges to visibility and public health.