Blanket at dawn, fan by noon: Double season spurs illnesses in Gujarat’

Ahmedabad: Many Amdavadis are currently struggling with the same dilemma: can they get away with turning their fans on full speed or do they need to get their air-conditioners serviced? It is not even mid-Feb, yet the mercury has already soared to 33°C, feeling like the start of summer. However, night temperatures still hover around 16°C, prompting citizens to use a thin blanket in the early hours. This double season is causing many residents to fall ill.Physicians in the city indicate a rise in cases of bronchitis, mild fever, body ache, and sore throat. On Monday, the city recorded a maximum of 33.1°C, 3.4 degrees above normal, while the minimum was 16.2°C, 3 degrees above normal. The gap between the two stood at nearly 17 degrees, the widest in the first nine days of Feb. Over the past week, daily fluctuations have ranged between 3°C and 5°C, according to available data. Dr Pravin Garg said that patients primarily complained about sore throat, dry cough, and fever with body ache. "In several cases, symptoms persist beyond two weeks. The sharp variation between day and night temperatures is a major factor, along with poor air quality on certain days. Most cases require symptomatic treatment," he said.Dr Pragnesh Vachcharajani added that the ongoing wedding season may be compounding the situation. "Crowded gatherings, outside food and the weather together are aggravating symptoms. Feb-March is typically a transitional period, but this year the fluctuations appear slightly earlier than usual. People with a history of allergies should take precautions," he said.According to the India meteorological department (IMD), the minimum temperature on Tuesday is likely to hover around 16°C. Across Gujarat, no major change in temperatures is expected over the next seven days.The state is currently under the influence of a Western Disturbance, with cyclonic circulation over north India and an induced cyclonic circulation over south-west Rajasthan. So far this Feb, minimum temperatures in the city have largely remained above normal.