Patna hospitals struggle amid surge in patients as winter chill worsens

Patna: A severe cold wave gripping the state capital has triggered a health emergency, with major hospitals in Patna reporting a sharp surge in patients suffering from brain haemorrhage, heart attacks, pneumonia and chest infections. The IMD, Patna, has issued a warning as “cold day” conditions persist throughout the weekend.Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) principal Dr Kaushal Kishore said such cases often double during winter as blood pressure rises sharply with falling temperatures, often without visible symptoms such as sweating. “The only way to prevent such emergencies is by keeping warm, staying indoors, and getting checked regularly,” Dr Kishore said.Resident doctors from Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) said the trend was particularly fatal as such cases occur suddenly, following a pattern seen every year during periods of intense cold.On Sunday, Patna emerged as one of the coldest locations in the state with temperatures hovering between 10.6 degrees Celsius and 14.5 degrees Celsius. The narrow gap of just 3.9 degrees Celsius created a persistent cold environment. A complete absence of sunlight and continuous cold winds prevented any rise in daytime temperatures, keeping the city in a deep chill.While Patna struggled with severe daytime cold, Sabour in Bhagalpur recorded the state’s lowest minimum temperature at 6.4 degrees Celsius.Elsewhere in Bihar, weather conditions remained dry but increasingly harsh. According to the IMD bulletin, maximum temperatures dropped by 5 to 7 degrees Celsius over the previous 24 hours on Sunday. Sheikhpura recorded the highest maximum temperature at 19.5 degrees Celsius, while most other regions witnessed rapid cooling. Dense fog significantly reduced visibility, with humidity levels touching 100% in seven districts. In Valmiki Nagar, visibility dropped to as low as 50 metres.The IMD has placed most districts under warnings for dense fog and cold day conditions, which are expected to continue until at least Jan 10. Areas under warnings for very dense fog include North and southwest Bihar, affecting districts such as West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan and Saran. Forecasters said minimum temperatures could fall by another 2 to 4 degrees Celsius by the end of the week, with night temperatures likely to range between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius across the state.The extreme weather is also taking a heavy toll on Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) daily wage earners. Mukesh, who has worked with the PMC for 18 years, said the 6 am shift is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. “We travel 10-12km to come to work, but thick fog and low visibility delay trains and make cycling hazardous,” he said.Mukesh added that late arrivals result in salary deductions and urged officials to extend winter attendance timing to 7 am. He also said the corporation never provided additional winter wear, pushing workers into “hand-to-mouth” situations where they cannot afford essential warm clothing. While the weather is expected to remain dry over the next week, the combined impact of severe cold and dense fog will continue to disrupt life across Bihar.