Mumbai: 

Leading civic-run hospitals, including KEM, Nair, and Sion, report a 30 to 40 per cent rise in outpatient visits over the past week. Most patients are arriving with a familiar array of complaints: sore throats, relentless dry coughs, lethargy, and a lingering sense of unease that often refuses to subside within the usual few days.

While the recent spell of pre-monsoon showers has brought much-needed relief from Mumbai’s sweltering summer heat, it has also triggered an unwelcome surge in seasonal ailments across the city. Hospitals are witnessing a marked increase in cases of fever, dry cough, fatigue, and respiratory discomfort, symptoms many doctors say are directly linked to the abrupt shift in weather from dry heat to heavy humidity.

Damp weather conditions in Mumbai leads to rise in flu related illness

Doctors are particularly concerned for vulnerable groups, especially older adults and those with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart diseases, who are at a heightened risk of complications.

Between Tuesday and Thursday, the Santacruz weather station recorded 34 mm of rainfall, the highest seen in May since 2021 and nearly four times the monthly average. Although the rains briefly broke the heat, the resulting damp conditions have created the perfect storm for illness.

Advisory by BMC

In light of the rising caseload, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued an advisory urging residents to take extra precautions. “We are asking citizens to maintain good hygiene, wear masks in crowded places, and avoid self-medication,” said a BMC spokesperson. “If symptoms last more than three days, medical attention should be sought immediately to prevent further health deterioration.”

The BMC is also encouraging routine vaccinations and early medical intervention, particularly as weather forecasts predict further unseasonal rainfall in the days ahead.

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