RAWALPINDI: Temperatures in Rawalpindi and Islamabad will fall further in the coming days due to the northerly winds in the region, the Met Office said.

On Sunday, the minimum temperature recorded by the Met Office in the twin cities was two degrees Celsius.

On the other hand, cold and drywave is causing health problems for children, elderly people and even hospital staff.

`The current cold wave will continue to grip Potohar region for the next three days, with no chances of rain,` an official of the meteorological department told Dawn.

He said cold and dry weather was expected in most parts of the country on Monday (today), and very cold in the hilly areas. Frost is likely to occur at isolated places in Islamabad, Potohar region and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the morning hours, adding that `moderate to dense fog is likely to persist in mostplain areas of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and upper Sindh during morning/night hours`.

The official said normally low rains were recorded in Rawalpindi and Islamabad at an average of 31mm from mid-November to end December.

However, he said this year, the area received only traces, which was not normal and it would give rise to mist late in the night and early morning.

On the other hand, with cold weather getting intense in recent days, living condition in the twin cities is becoming tougher for people who are already facing low gas pressure.

Most people are using wood and coal to keep their houses warm due to no gas supply in their areas. Mostly people are seenontheirrooftopsin the afternoonto enjoy the sun. However, by evening, the streets and bazaars give a deserted look due to the cold weather.

Weather-related ailments have also gone up over the last few days, with a number of patients arriving in the city hospitals. Doctors said the patients weremostly children and the elderly.

`The number of elderly people visiting hospitals with complaints of high fever and flu has increased whereas children are coming to get treatment for cough and flu,` Medical Superintendent of Holy Family Hospital Dr Ijaz Butt said.

He said upper respiratory diseases had increased due to dry cold weather, therefore people should keep themselves and their families hydrated.

Medical Superintendent of Benazir Bhutto Hospital Dr Tahir Rizvi said apart from patients, hospital staff, including doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, were also suffering from flu and cold for the last one week.

He said it was viral infection therefore people should wear masks to avoid the infection from spreading further.

He further said the administration had asked the hospital staff to wear mask to avoid getting fin and cold from patients.

Dr Rizvi advised people to keep warm them, increase liquid intakes, especially soups, and cover their heads and ears to beat the cold.