Cyclone Dana brings relief for Kolkatans with chhatim allergy
Times of India | 2 November 2024
123 Kolkata: Even though Cyclone Dana triggered heavy rain, the city was spared any significant damage. However, it did bring relief to those with allergies and asthma, as the heavy showers led to chhatim trees (Alstonia scholaris) shedding the flowers that have a strong fragrance. The off-white flowers occur in clusters and give off a fragrance during the Bengali season of ‘Hemanta' (Oct-Nov), which usually marks the advent of winter.
While many enjoy the blooming season, residents with breathing trouble residing along Bagbazar Street, Ballygunge Circular Road, Southern Avenue, J L Nehru Road, and Central Avenue, where many decades-old chhatim trees still exist, experienced trouble sleeping since mid-Oct due to the profuse flowering of the trees. When the trees shed flowers during the rains, they can breathe easily and keep the windows open at night.
"I usually keep all my windows closed during the full bloom season at night as the strong odour creates breathing issues for me," said Mandira Mullick, a resident of Lake Road.
The state tree of Bengal was once a very popular avenue tree due to its sturdy nature, resistance to strong winds and ability to mitigate vehicular emissions. "I particularly love night walks along the quiet stretch of Ballygunge Circular Road after 8 pm, particularly during this time of the season when chhatim flowers are in full bloom and spread a sweet aroma across the street," said Ashoke Malhotra, a businessman of Ritchie Road.
"The evergreen single-stem trees with densely covered shades by leaves give a canopy-type effect, a perfect choice for an avenue tree in Indian metropolitans. The tree also has high preference due to its high air pollution tolerance index (APTI)," said Santanu Saha, HoD, post-graduate department of Botany at Bidhannagar College.
But fresh plantation of chhatim in the city by KMC parks and squares dept was discontinued following health concerns. "In the last five years, we did not plant these trees due to the strong scent of its flowers that led to breathing problems and difficulty in sleeping," said Sarbani Roy, botanist from KMC's parks & square department.
A study found that during the dry season, huge loads of comose seeds and heavy loads of bio-particulate material produced by the decomposition of empty follicles travel through the air and cause allergy problems in sensitive people.
"Avenue trees that we now prefer in Kolkata are Amaltas (sonajhuri), Tabebuia (pink trumpet) and Spathodea (rudra palash) apart from existing mahogany, neem, debdaru, bakul, jarul and Mahua," added Roy.