LAHORE: The smog continued to engulf the major cities of Punjab on Friday morning, crippling the normal life in the province as the residents continue to reel under such weather conditions.
The visibility range on the motorway dropped to 25-50 metres from Lahore to Bhera in the morning, affecting the traffic flow dreadfully amid presence of dense smog.
The motorway police have instructed the motorists to reduce speed and ensure switching on fog lights to avoid mishaps.
At least a person was killed in Faisalabad and several others were injured in other parts of the province in various traffic accidents due to low visibility caused by smog on Thursday.
Punjab has been badly struck with such weather conditions in recent years in beginning days of winter in the region. The prevalent smog episode is similar to the one that struck the province last year, noted chief meteorologist Mohammad Riaz.
The commuters remain stranded during early hours of the day due to presence of thick smog, dropping the visibility range.
According to the chief meteorologist, the smog is caused by a lack of rain and immense pollution. Smoke from vehicles, factories and burning of the remains of crops could one of the major factors behind the dense smog in the province, Riaz said.
Analysts are of opinion that a spell of heavy rains or strong winds could clear the smog.
Moreover, the provincial government has imposed ‘Section 144’ in the province till December 16 to bar farmers from burning leftover crops waste, which believed to be one of the prime contributors to smog.
As winter begins, the areas of northern Punjab come under a thick layer of fog affecting the daily life and vehicular traffic. Motorways blocked and flights delayed or cancelled due to poor visibility.
The thick hazy layer understood to be winter’s fog is actually noxious smog carrying serious health hazards, experts say.
Smog is air pollution that reduces visibility. The term “smog” was first used in the early 1900s to describe a mix of smoke and fog. Smog is created by increasing vehicular and industrial emissions and burning of coal and the remains of agriculture crops. Smog has been common in industrial areas and remains a familiar sight in cities today.
