Cold-related ailments on the rise in Balakot

Flu-like symptoms hit residents as temperatures hit -7 degrees Celsius

BALAKOT:

Cases of flu and fever among people, especially children, are on the rise in Balakot and Kaghan Valley as the areas are in the grip of a severe cold.

The temperature in Kaghan has reached minus 7, while in Naran Valley, it has reached minus 9 due to the severe wave of dry winter that has been going on for the past few days. The severe cold wave is likely to persist for the next few days and there was also the forecast for cloudy weather.

The four seasons of Balakot and Kaghan valley have also been severely affected by climate change. During the current year, in the month of July, more than two feet of snowfall was recorded at the upper places of Kaghan Valley, Noori and Babusar Top while the current month of December, which is considered to be the season of snowfall in the past is facing drought.

Talking about seasonal diseases, a physician in Balakot, Dr Muhammad Farid, said that due to dry and cold weather, a lot of children are suffering from seasonal diseases like fever, cough and flu.

Dr Farid advised that parents should ensure that children wear warm clothes and wear masks while going out.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2022.