Why Mumbai’s winters bring more ER emergencies: Doctor’s first

Mumbai’s mild winter, coinciding with the festive season, brings a sharp surge in Emergency Department cases — particularly respiratory failures, sudden cardiac or neurological events, trauma, and poisoning — where every minute can make the difference between life and death. Mumbai may not see a northern winter, yet every year from November to January, our Accident & Emergency Department experiences a sharp rise in life-threatening cases. Cooler nights, rising pollution and emotionally charged festive weeks form a dangerous combination. As an emergency physician at Jaslok Hospital, I’m reminded each winter that survival in the ER is determined by one factor above all — the Golden Hour. The largest spike is in respiratory collapses. One December night, a 65-year-old Mr Ravish Me