With thick layer of dust permeating several parts of the city, doctors say the number of patients with respiratory problems has increased in the OPD’s of various hospitals and other health centers over the past few months.“Continuous exposure to the dust has resulted in cough and allergy of many people. We are also receiving many patients who suffer from bacterial growth, asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems,” one of the senior doctors of SMHS told KNS.He said that the hospitals are also receiving number of motorists who complain eye irritation and poor visibility because of air pollution.Dust covered roads of the city have added to pollution to such an extent that people are now opting for masks to prevent respiratory problems. However, experts say that the masks available in the market are not viable against the current status of pollution.“Due to digging of roads for various projects and lack of maintenance the city remains covered in clouds of dust for most of the time. Finding no end to this problem people, especially bikers are going after dust masks available in market,” said Shabir Ahmad, a motorist.
People also alleged that with the increase in content of dust in the city's air, the surgical and medical shops have got a new way to make profit due to rise in sale of masks.There are two varieties of masks available in the market-Chinese and Indian. According to one of the owners of medical shop at JVC Bemina these masks are available in the price slot of Rs 40-250 which varies as per the quality.According to him these masks are helpful in saving lungs from the negative effects of the air pollution in the city. However, the experts told KNS that these low-cost masks are not clinically approved and are being sold without any medical reference.Sources alleged that there are few shopkeepers who are sell locally produced masks, which are prepared by tailors with below-standard material. The experts say that these masks are not effective and can only control 60 percent of the major dust particles.
“After a five to six-hour long ride on roads of the city, the capacity of the lungs might decrease up to 20-30% and which takes 3-4 days to recover. Continuous exposure might cause a long-term damage to lungs, says, one of the specialists of chest diseases hospital,” they said.Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation told KNS that unless roads are not fully macadamized the problem will continue. “Though we are taking steps for the sanitization of the city, till the roads are not macadamized the problem will not be solved. We have machines that can clean the roads but these machines can run only on good roads,” he said.However, he was quick to add that the Corporation will try its level best for reducing dust on roads. KNS