Pollen allergy hits Baramulla district

Baramulla, May 5: Despite freaky weather conditions in Kashmir, north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is gripped with pollen allergies which is now turning into a perennial health hazard with people alleging that they are falling prey to allergies due to government apathy to cut down the Russian female Russian poplars.
Though pollen allergies in the spring are common, but the roads, streets and corners across north Kashmir particularly Baramulla and Sopore – where thousands of poplars line up is giving a tough time to people.
A group of students from GDC Boys Baramulla said that the government’s inaction over cutting down the trees is taking a heavy toll as they are not able to attend their classes due to pollen that leads to various forms of allergies.
“The government needs to take more steps as we face such kinds of issues every year. It becomes quite irritating,” the students said. Similarly, local traders have been complaining about the same, stating that they face great inconvenience as pollen-induced allergies are hitting their market as fewer people turn up while the majority prefers to sit in their homes.
They said that every year administration claims of cutting down the Rusian female poplars, the main source of producing pollen, but nothing is witnessed on ground. “It’s high time to act on it as people including school/college going students, elderly persons are becoming soft targets of allergies,” they said.
Dr. Javaid Bhat, a Kashmir-based physician posted in Sopore hospital said, that the person affected with the pollen-induced allergy needs proper medical advice especially for those who are battling Asthama else it could exacerbate, which may have serious consequences.
“The common symptoms of pollen-induced allergy include nasal irritation, running nose and watery eyes coupled with redness and skin rashes. These symptoms may further exacerbate in patients having Asthma – in which a person’s airways become inflamed, narrow and swell and produce extra mucus, which makes it difficult to breathe,” he said. “The patients suffering from allergies are advised to take precautionary measures like wearing masks, medicines include anti-allergic tablets and in case the infection is high then antibiotic is prescribed.”
Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Baramulla, Dr Syed Sehrish while speaking to media over the issue said that every year they are taking measures and old/toxic trees are being axed. She assured that people will not face pollen issues along Srinagar-Baramulla national highway, as they have taken up the process of cutting down the trees in a phased manner.
About army cantonment areas, the DC said that the government has a role to play over state land rather than private. In terms of privacy, people better can play a great role themselves, she said.
Pertinently, in 2015, High Court passed directions banning plantation and trade of pollen producing poplar trees particularly Russian poplar trees across Kashmir. However, the government has miserably failed in stopping the perennial health hazard by cutting down the said trees.