Twin Towers: Respiratory Disease Patients May Face Problems

Patients suffering from respiratory diseases, especially those residing near the demolition site of the twin towers in Noida’s Sector 93-A, may experience a spike in health problems as pollutant particles got mixed in the environment following the fall of the high rises, a health expert said on Sunday.

Interacting with IANS, Jugal Kishore, head of Community Medicine Department, Safdarjung Hospital, said that mainly, the patients of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis and asthma may experience an attack-like situation, or the problem may even get aggravated.

“Patients who feel this type of situation may increase their medication dose,” he told IANS, adding that those having sore throat and other infection or allergy may use anti-allergic medicines. “When such a massive demolition takes place, among other elements, asbestos and the silica along with used gunpowder become the major factors that could cause respiratory problems,” Kishore said.

He further said that patients with cardiovascular issues can also experience a spike in the levels of blood pressure.

The best way to avoid the problems is to start the medicine as the symptoms start, he said.

“They have used the water sprinkling method to settle the dust mixed in the environment. Even the residents of the neighbouring society may use their own system of water sprinkling. They also can use the air purifier inside the house to avoid such problems,” he told IANS.

“Persons suffering from COPD and other respiratory diseases in the nearby areas must use the N-95 mask while going outside to avoid the dust and the problems,” said Harish Salve, Additional Professor, Centre for Community Medicine at Delhi AIIMS.

The demolition has led to higher level of pollutants mixing in the environment which will take another 10-15 days to settle down, and could have direct impact on PM-2.5, said Salve, adding those suffering from asthma and other respiratory problems may experience exacerbation of the problems.

Meanwhile, as the twin towers were reduced to rubble in a matter of seconds on Sunday, producing an ominous cloud of smoke, Twitter exploded with amusing comments, hilarious memes and dark humour. While some users tweeted that the “Tower of Corruption” was grounded, a few others said the media’s ground coverage of the unprecedented event was “as if ISRO is sending Gaganyaan to moon”.

The nearly 100-metre-high illegally-built Apex (32 floors) and Ceyane (29 floors) towers were razed to the ground using hi-tech engineering techniques. Over 3,700 kg of explosives were used to bring down the structures.

People across the country were glued to their TV sets since afternoon to watch the mega demolition event and a little past 2:30 PM, the twin towers literally became history, becoming the tallest structures to be demolished in India.

Twitterati responded to the demolition with a range of feelings—mirth, amusement, humour, sarcasm, while some even asked if it was really necessary to carry out the demolition and could it not have been reused for humanitarian or other public welfare purposes.

“Done and Dusted. #TwintowersDemolition #Noida #NoidaTowerDemolition #NoidaTwinTowers #SupertechTwinTowers #Supertech @indiatvnews,” wrote user @ShivamG2711 and shared a clip of visuals of demolition playing on a TV set.

Hundreds of cameras were placed at various vantage points in the nearby areas, including those brought by crew members of a large number of media houses. The towers, which dominated the Noida skyline, stood taller than Delhi’s iconic Qutub Minar (73 m) before being consigned to history. They were under construction since 2009, within the Supertech Emerald Court housing society in Sector 93A of Noida, adjoining Delhi, and were demolished on the order of the Supreme Court.

“Tower of Curruption of #Supertech grounded. #NoidaTowerDemolition #Noida #SupertechTwinTowersDemolition,” wrote user @BhupendraNegi08.

Another user @A_Parolia tweeted just before the exercise was carried out: “D-Day for these towers who I call Yin & Yang. They are symbol of corruption between the builders & the authorities; but also for the fight, victory & justice for the #homebuyers. May this be a lesson for all, Satyamev Jayate. @jagograhakjago #Demolition #TwinTowers #Supertech”.

Some Noida residents even live streamed it on social media from the balconies. User @akashrai_3575 wrote: “Twin tower History Now! #TwinTowers,” while streaming it on Twitter. (IANS/PTI)