Kathmandu’s minimum temperature dropped to 5.4 degrees Celsius on Monday, the lowest of 2022. And the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology says that this is just a start as the worst of winter is yet to come.

Officials say the temperature will decline further in the coming days and this will affect vulnerable populations—small children, elderly people and others already having health issues such as pneumonia and asthma, among others.

“There is no new weather system in sight to bring immediate change,” said Sajina Shakya, a meteorologist at the division. “Ongoing decline in temperature is caused by the regular weather system.”

Officials say a cold wave is unlikely in the Tarai region immediately, but most of the southern plains will see mist and fog in the mornings, which will affect vehicular movement and disrupt flight schedules, among other things.

With the onset of winter, the number of patients suffering from cold-related ailments has already risen in hospitals.

“More people with cold-related ailments are visiting our hospital these days,” said Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula, director at the Kanti Children’s Hospital in Kathmandu. “And every day around 15 to 20 patients need hospitalisation.”

Doctors said the number of children suffering from pneumonia has increased significantly.

Likewise, some are found to have bronchial asthma and several cases involve winter diarrhea as well, according to the hospital.

The Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital said around 30 patients having cold-related ailments have been visiting the hospital in serious conditions every day. “Such patients need hospital admission,” said Dr Niraj Bam, an associate professor at the Institute of Medicine. “Around 200 patients having cold-related illnesses visit our out-patient department every day.”

Doctors say the number of small children and elderly people suffering from pneumonia, seasonal influenza, asthma, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and other respiratory illnesses have increased with the gradual fall in temperature over the past few weeks.

“Cold affects all, but vulnerable populations—small children, elderly people and those already ailing or having comorbidities are at high risk,” said Bam.