Patients with cough, sneezing, cold and watery eyes visit Delhi's RML

New Delhi [India], October 21 (ANI): Patients with cough, sneezing, cold, itching in the throat, watery eyes and some with burning in the skin, Monday visited the Outpatient Department (OPD) Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital as the pollution has increased "tremendously" in the national capital.
Dr Amit Jindal from RML Hospital attributed these symptoms to the increasing pollution in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR)
"...The pollution has increased tremendously in Delhi NCR. So right now we are seeing patients with respiratory, eye and skin complaints majorly in our OPDs. We have seen an increased number of patients in our chest OPD. Now with the vision of our medical superintendent Dr Ajay Shukla, we have started this pollution-related illness clinic every Monday from 2-4 pm. Today, we saw patients coming with cough, sneezing, cold, itching in the throat, watering eyes and some of the patients with burning in the skin," Dr Jindal told ANI.
"These are the main symptoms that patients are coming with. We can attribute these symptoms to the increasing pollution in Delhi NCR...," he added.
Dr Jindal stated that patients sometimes feel depressed and hopeless due to the pollution
"And we have also included psychiatry as a branch in this pollution clinic. Because of this pollution, sometimes the patient may feel depressed and hopeless. So to counsel them, we have psychiatrist as well in this pollution clinic," Dr Jindal said.
Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Monday ordered the implementation of GRAP-II in Delhi- National Capital Region.
"In an effort to prevent further deterioration of the air quality, the Sub-Committee decided that all actions as envisaged under Stage II of the GRAP-Very Poor Air Quality be implemented by all the agencies concerned in the NCR, in addition to the Stage-I actions already in force, from 8:00 A.M. of 22.10.2024 in the National Capital Region (NCR)," read the order.
The CAQM has urged people to use public transport and minimize the use of personal vehicles and regularly replace air filters at recommended intervals in their automobiles.
The AQI of Delhi since Monday morning has been hovering around 300 and at 4.00 pm it was recorded at 310, as per the CAQM. (ANI)