Smog continues to engulf city areas, residents suffer

Smog continued to engulf parts of the city areas on Sunday, especially during morning and evening hours. A day after the city AQI touched the 369 mark, remaining in the ‘very poor’ category, the AQI came down to 261 on Sunday. It improved the air quality, but it still falls in the poor category.

Smog reduced the visibility inconveniencing commuters a lot. It was more visible on the outskirts where vehicles were being driven at a slow speed to avoid any untoward accident.

The holy city, a popular tourist destination, has shown minimal progress in improving air quality over the years. Disappointing ambient air quality is witnessed here every year following paddy harvesting, which aggravates around Diwali. Clean air and water are the basic requirements of people, said environmentalist Rupinder Singh. It assumes more significance when a large number of floating population visit here for tourism purpose.

Residents fear that the smog cover may cause irritation in the eyes and other respiratory diseases. Aged and kids are vulnerable to smog and may fall sick as had been seen in previous years.

Environmentalists say that pollutants will disperse in the environment once the wind velocity or rain lashes the region. The condition would persist for the next few days. In this scenario, rain will be the only way out, experts said.

Rain only solution: Experts

Environmentalists say that pollutants will disperse in the environment once the wind velocity or rain lashes the region. The condition would persist for the next few days. In this scenario, rain will be the only way out, experts said.