Smog turns City into a ‘gas chamber’

LAHORE:A thick blanket of smog has changed the provincial metropolis into a gas chamber resulting in serious health hazards for the citizens here on Monday.

As per the data issued by the EPD, in the last 24 hours, the average air quality index (AQI) of Lahore was 353, which is extremely harmful to health. Lahore’s AQI has increased due to easterly winds, decrease in temperature and increase in humidity, the EPD spokesperson said, adding this situation will continue for the next few days.

The spokesperson said the AQI was expected to improve due to the increase in temperature and decrease in humidity during the day. The department also released an advisory for the citizens and requested them to strictly follow the instructions. The advisory said do not leave the house and in case of outdoor activity the citizens must use N95 or equivalent masks and goggles to protect against contamination. It said limit outdoor activities on days when the air quality was poor. To protect your health, limit exercise outside the house and exercise in an indoor gym or at home.

Check the AQI regularly and get a health check-up regularly, the advisory said, adding elderly persons should not leave the house. It advised the citizens to keep windows and doors of houses closed and do not stay in open places for long. People suffering from respiratory and heart diseases should not exercise without the advice of their physician and should not leave the house unless absolutely necessary. All these safety measures are being taken to protect children, elderly and all citizens from the negative effects of smog. Citizens were also advised to get their vehicles fixed immediately and do not add to the smog.

On the other hand, a large number of the citizens complained of irritation and redness of eyes, sore throat, increased heartbeats and other health related issues while travelling on the city roads.

Overall the city witnessed a hazy day and smog levels increased at the choking points on different roads as traffic congestion was also one of the major causes behind the smog. Met officials said that continental air was prevailing over most parts of the country while a westerly wave was likely to affect western and upper parts from today (Tuesday).

They predicted that mainly dry weather was expected in most plain areas of the country while cloudy weather with chances of rain-windstorm/thunderstorm (with light snowfall over high mountains) in upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and upper Punjab. Monday’s maximum temperature was recorded at Lasbela and Shaheed Benazirabad where mercury reached 43°C, while in Lahore, it was 32°C and minimum was 20°C.