Swing between day, night temperatures worries docs

Mumbai:- Doctors are worried about the huge difference between day and night temperatures in the city. On Sunday, the maximum temperature went upto 31.7 degrees Celsius even while the minimum dipped to 16.5. The weather bureau has predicted that day temperatures will rise further even as night temperatures will remain the same. In other words, the difference between day and night temperatures will rise.

Doctors fear that with hotter days, people will flock to air-conditioned interiors and gulp down cold drinks. "Then they will walk out into the hot sun and get sore throats," said a doctor. Doctors said Mumbaikars should stay on guard.

"Influenza cases surge tremendously whenever there is a drop in temperature or there is a huge difference between day and night temperatures. When people experience extreme hot and cold weather, they are bound to have some change in body temperature too-especially infants, very old people, those suffering from diabetes or chronic respiratory diseases," said Dr Altaf Patel, consulting physician, Jaslok Hospital.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau says the current scene is not unusual. Officials say day and night temperatures in Mumbai are going to hover around 37 and 17 degrees Celsius respectively. The 20-degree differential is not unusual, they say. "The city should worry only when the minimum temperature dips to around 12 to 13 degrees," said a duty officer in the meteorology department, Mumbai.