Lethal smog blankets South Asia: Landmarks erased, health at risk
The air quality index is alarmingly high in Pakistan and India. This week, smog has drastically reduced visibility, obscuring views of landmarks like the Taj Mahal in Agra. As a result, many flights have been delayed.
14 November 2024 18:31
The most polluted city in the world on Thursday, November 14, was Lahore in eastern Pakistan, which has a population of 14 million - according to data from IQAir, which collects and publishes information on air pollution worldwide.
Horrible smog situation
In Lahore, the pollution index exceeded 1,100. It is important to note that the WHO considers levels above 180 to be hazardous to health.
Delhi in India was a close second, with an AQI index surpassing 580, according to IQAir data.
Visibility at the international airport in Delhi dropped to 300 metres that day. Even the day before, some flights were operating with nearly zero visibility. According to data from Flightradar24, as many as 88% of departures and 54% of arrivals on November 13 were delayed.
As explained by local officials, the causes of the toxic fog include air pollution, high humidity, weak winds, and a drop in temperature. Unfortunately, the air is so dense that popular tourist attractions in the country are barely visible. Among the smog-covered sites are the 17th-century Taj Mahal in Agra and the Golden Temple – the main Sikh sanctuary – in Amritsar.
This smog is not just a problem for sightseeing or travel; it is primarily a threat to health and the environment. Indian doctors are raising alarms about the increasing number of patients suffering from coughs, colds, and severe asthma attacks. The Indian Ministry of Earth Sciences recorded an increase in field fires from 1,200 on November 11 to 2,300 two days later.
A massive health threat
NASA published satellite images on Monday showing the thick smog on the India-Pakistan border. The highest air quality index was recorded on November 9 in the Pakistani city of Multan, at 2,316.
