Sudden chill, rain in Mumbai to lead to more illness

A women runs to escape a shower in Goregaon East. Pic/Anurag Ahire

Along with rising Covid cases, the city witnessed untimely rain on Saturday. It rained in isolated parts of the city and led to a drop in temperature as well. The weather change also means that doctors are seeing more patients with viral-like symptoms.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), active Western disturbances led to attraction of moisture from the Arabian Sea, which resulted in isolated rain-showers. On Saturday, Mumbai's Colaba and Santa Cruz observatories saw a minimum temperature of 21.8 and maximum temperature of 29 and 30.1 respectively. "The temperature is expected to drop for the next two days after which there will be a gradual increase. However, the rain was an isolated activity and is not likely to repeat. The temperature is expected to remain pleasant until the middle of the next week," shared Nitha Sahahidharan, scientist at the IMD Mumbai.

General Physician Dr Hemant Thacker said, "This is a clear case of overlapping symptoms. With the changes in weather, viral infections are bound to increase. The primary treatment for Covid is the same as that of the regular viral infection." However, Dr Jalil Parkar, chest physician, said, "The treatment for both varies and it is important for citizens to consult their doctors if basic symptomatic medicines don't work. This is abnormal weather and regular viral infections are likely to increase."