Smog engulfs plains of Punjab, limits visibility

LAHORE: The most of Punjab plains were engulfed in dense smog on Thursday morning, as the citizens reeling under the weather conditions crippling the normal life.

The weather condition usually covers Punjab in early days of winter causing hardships for people in Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur, Uch Sharif and other parts of the province.

Due to the presence of thick smog, the commuters remain stranded during early hours of the day due to inadequate visibility, besides undergoing breathing problems and irritation of eyes.

The visibility range on the motorway dropped to 200-300 metres in the morning. The traffic flow badly affected in Tandlianwala due to thick fog.

The motorway police have instructed the drivers to reduce speed and ensure switching on fog lights to avoid mishaps.

The weather experts said that 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 region, they noted.

Punjab 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.

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.

What is 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.