A girl crosses the road with her head covered to protect herself from the dust and wind on Thursday. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

Feb. 17: After the winter fog, the time has come for Guwahatians to bite the dust!

For the past few years, the city has been reeling under dust storms. And it appears there will be no respite from them for some more time.

The weather office today predicted the dust storms would continue till the first week of March.

Regional Meteorological Office director M. Mahapatra said the city, which has already witnessed a dry spell and windy conditions, may experience severe dust-storms as well as thundersqualls in the coming days.

?The winter has already departed, paving the way for a warm spring and summer. This particular period of the year generally witnesses dry and windy conditions,? he said.

Mahapatra said though isolated places over the region are receiving some rainfall, the city may not experience rain for sometime. However, the sky could well remain cloudy, he said.

?This is just too much. My maid has to sweep the floors and dust the furniture almost every couple of hours even though I?m keeping all doors and windows closed,? said Archana Sarma, a housewife.

?What is worse, the dust even manages to find its way into our mouths,? she said, exasperated.

On the other hand, doctors have warned of health hazards, given the changes in the weather condition.

Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) principal-cum-chief superintendent M.M. Deka said the chances of contracting jaundice are the highest now, thanks to the change in weather patterns.

?Owing to dry weather conditions, people feel more thirsty. Naturally, they want to drink great quantities of water to quench their thirst. Those who stay outdoors for long periods will have to be careful about where they drink the water. We have already received a few patients who have contracted jaundice as they drank water outside their homes or offices and from suspect sources,? he said.

Deka said diarrhoea and fever were also on the rise. As a precautionary measure, the GMCH chief advises everyone not to drink water outside home and maintain a balanced diet.

Some private hospitals and private clinics have also reported receiving patients suffering from jaundice.

Deka also pointed out that the dust storms often cause eye infections.

Parents here are worried over the change in weather. Nandini Hazarika, the mother of an eight-year-old girl, expressed her concern over her daughter Priya. Since yesterday, Priya has been complaining of irritation in her eyes after returning from school.

?My daughter was indisposed this morning. I have decided not to send her to school this week,? Hazarika said.

Some of the private English medium schools are also taking initiatives on their own to ensure their students do not fall ill.

Some of the parents have urged the schools to ensure that vendors selling ice-cream and other food items, such as gram, do not sell their wares right in front of the school campuses.