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No respite from biting cold in Ludhiana, AQI down to very poor
Adding to the woes of Ludhiana residents, reeling under the cold weather, the air quality index (AQI) plunging to 326 points to fall in the very poor category
Adding to the woes of city residents, who are already reeling under biting cold, the pollution level hit a new high for the new year on Monday — with the air quality index (AQI) plunging to 326 points to fall in the very poor category.
November 9, however, remains the most polluted day of the winter season, with AQI hitting 404 points and the “severe” category.
Officials at the meteorological department said while the maximum temperature remained 11° C, 6.5 degrees below normal, the minimum temperature was 7° C, 1.6 degrees above normal.
Expect rain later in week: weatherman
Light to moderate showers, meanwhile, have been predicted for January 12.
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) department of climate change and agricultural meteorology head Dr Pavneet Kaur Kingra said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rain in Majha and Doaba regions, adding, “We are expecting light to moderate showers on Thursday which may bring some respite from rising pollution level.”
Addressing the factors behind the rising pollution level, Kingra said, “Low wind velocity (less than 5 kmph) and dip in temperature creates closed-room conditions causing suspended particles to keep hanging in the air. The drug emitting through vehicular movement compounded the problem and led to a rise in pollution level.”
Kingra said the present conditions are favourable for rabbi corps and will help in tillering and jointing of wheat crops, advising residents to schedule the travel plans keeping in mind the presence of dense fog and low visibility in the region.
She also advised to elderly residents, especially those with heart conditions, to refrain from early morning walks due cold conditions and high pollution levels.
District family planning officer (DFPO) Dr Harpreet Singh said a majority of the children are suffering from dry cough due to dip in temperature and presence of pollutants in the air, appealing to the residents to take all possible precautions in the cold.
Also warning against the unfavourable weather conditions, senior pulmonologist at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Ludhiana, Dr Akashdeep Singh said, “Dust and current weather conditions are very harmful for people with respiratory disease and cause breathing allergies among all age groups, particularly among the elderly and children.”
Amit Behl, who visited Ludhiana from Mohali, meanwhile, said, “The city was engulfed with smog during the evening. The roads are broken at many places due to the ongoing construction projects at Ferozepur road and the dust only adds to the woes.”
