Diwali Celebrations Exacerbate Respiratory Distress in Calcutta

Strategic Insights -

As Calcutta's residents celebrate Diwali, they are also facing a serious health concern. The season of festivities brings a drastic increase in patients coming to hospitals with respiratory distress. According to doctors speaking to this newspaper, the number of patients with respiratory issues spikes exponentially during Diwali night and at least a couple of nights after that. The city's air quality also drops to "very poor" at several locations during and after Diwali.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of patients coming to hospitals with respiratory distress increases exponentially during Diwali night and at least a couple of nights after that.
  • According to infectious diseases expert Chandramouli Bhattacharya, most patients with respiratory issues have underlying conditions like chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) and asthma.
  • Typically, 10 to 12 patients come to Peerless Hospital on Diwali night with respiratory distress, but the number more than doubles in the next two days.
  • At Belle Vue Clinic, the number of patients with respiratory distress increases from 60-70 to 150 during Diwali and the ensuing nights.
  • Saurabh Maji, consultant pulmonologist at RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences, warns that patients with underlying lung conditions should take measures like wearing masks and consulting doctors to increase the doses of inhalers.
  • Environment activist Subhas Datta emphasizes the increased harm caused by fireworks, which fuel air pollution, and respirable particulate matter (RPM) is increased by fireworks.

Statistics:

  • Typically, 10 to 12 patients come to Peerless Hospital on Diwali night with respiratory distress.
  • The number of patients with respiratory distress more than doubles in the next two days.
  • At Belle Vue Clinic, the number of patients with respiratory distress increases from 60-70 to 150 during Diwali and the ensuing nights.
  • Respirable particulate matter (RPM) at 60 micrograms per cubic meter is the annual average air quality standard for residential, rural, and other areas in India.
  • In Calcutta, RPM reaches between 80 and 100 during Diwali.

Sources:

  • Chandramouli Bhattacharya, infectious diseases expert at Peerless Hospital
  • Sudipta Mitra, chief executive of Peerless Hospital
  • Pradip Tondon, CEO of Belle Vue
  • Saurabh Maji, consultant pulmonologist at RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences
  • Subhas Datta, environment activist