Hyderabad:Lakdikapul and Masab Tank recorded an ear-shattering noise level of 113 deciBels (dB), during a check by Deccan Chronicle reporters from across the city. This is the equivalent of a jack hammer at full blast, concert music at full volume or someone shouting directly in your ear.
To put this in perspective, 120 dD is the threshold level, exceeding which can lead to immediate hearing damage.
Much of the noise was created by impatient and irate motorists, using the horn of their vehicles to force other commuters out of their way. While motorists, especially two-wheeler riders, are affected, the traffic police have it worse.
The incessant noise leaves the road-user with more than just a headache: It pushes up stress levels and is harmful to health.
Srinivas, traffic station house officer at Jeedimetla, said, “Apart from the ear pain, a lot of times we also suffer mentally after being exposed to so much of honking. When we get back home, we feel irritated, sometimes even sad. Sometimes, both the head and the ear hurt. Sadly, there is not much we can do.”
A traffic home guard near the Jubilee bus station (JBS) said, “It is unbearable, but then it is an occupational hazard. They are so restless that
some motorists honk even when the signal is red and there is no emergency for which they have to rush.”
Understandably, the rise in persistent honking has annoyed everyone in the city.
Asif, from Chikkadpally, told Deccan Chronicle: Although the traffic flow in Bengaluru and Mumbai is worse, here it is more about some people just wanting to honk, which is quite annoying.”
Rakesh from Abids said, “We cannot stand honking and badly want to complain about it in a way where it has an impact and stops.”
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle about the health hazards caused by exposure to loud sound, Dr Mohd Kareemullah Khan, ENT surgeon, Care Hospital, said, “Any loud noise is damaging for the ear. If you are in a car, it is still okay, but when on a two-wheeler, wearing a helmet actually does cut off a lot of high volume sound from getting into your ears.”
That leaves the pedestrians, and those travelling in autorickshaws and buses protected.
While honking has snatched away the peace of many residents and commuters, it has also led to a sort of sound trauma for field workers like the traffic police. Longer hours of exposure to sound levels beyond 90 dB can lead to sound trauma, mainly caused due to honking, said Dr Shreya Reddy, senior resident, Gandhi Hospital.
According to Dr Shreya, traffic police personnel are more prone to auditory issues due to longer hours of exposure to high levels of sound. Gandhi Hospital doctors have conduct a series of ear tests on aspiring police personnel.
Dr Janardhan Rao Jagini, ENT consultant, KIMS Hospital, who sees traffic police coming with auditory issues more often, told Deccan Chronicle, “Hearing issues are occupational hazards for the traffic police. The traffic noise itself is harmful and honking aggravates the problem. I remember performing a cochlear implant surgery on a traffic cop from Khammam. He was suffering from a total hearing loss just prior to his retirement.”
Going further, he said, “Most cops come to me with tinnitus and hearing loss. More often than not, by the time they actually reach us, there is too much damage already,” the ENT doctor said.
“When we compare a traffic cop who is only exposed to the sound of traffic movement with the one who is exposed more to honking, the latter will be found more prone to hearing loss,” Dr Jagini said, adding that chances of hearing loss varies from individual to individual.
Explaining the toil of the police, a Hyderabad commissionerate traffic officer said: “Besides common problems like breathing issues, varicose, and knee pains, these officers who are constantly on the road develop overtime, auditory issues have also become nearly common. A cop might always not be in the traffic wing as some could be shifted to law and order or crime, but the damage done during their time of service in traffic is quite severe.”
Speaking of the difficulties faced in booking cases to curb the growing menace, the officer said, “It is very difficult to book cases for regular honking as a single person will not create noise pollution. It is difficult to identify who exactly honked. Even if we do identify any motorist, he can always claim that the sound produced through his honk was within the permissible level.”
The official said that the police did attempt to provide ear plugs for traffic personnel on the roads but it did not help as these cops have to be
alert on the road all the time. “Now there is nothing that can protect them from sound pollution,” the official said.
GFX:
Noisy city
Traffic noise recorded by Deccan Chronicle bureau
Above 110: Jack hammer, someone shouting in the ear
Masab Tank: 113;
Lakdikapul: 113;
· 100 Factory machinery
Ranigunj – 104;
Mehdipatnam: 93;
Secretariat: 93;
SP Road: 93;
Minister Road: 93;
At KIMS Hospital: 95
Gandhi Hospital Metro station: 92;
Jubilee Hills Rd No. 1: 91;
· 80-90: Food mixer or processor
Shenoy Hospital, East Marredpally: 89
Parade Grounds Metro station: 89;
Narayanguda circle: 88
All figures in deciBels, noise measured using Sound Meter app
Sound recorded by Mayank Tiwari, Nabinder Bommala, Shrimansi Kaushik, Prathyush Nallella
