State continues to reel under poor air quality, raises health concerns

Even as Haryana has recorded no case of stubble burning in the past 24 hours, the air quality across major cities continues to be of the poor category, causing health issues among residents.

Sirsa sees first foggy morning

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Sirsa: The city experienced its first foggy morning of the winter season on Tuesday, blanketing the skies with dense fog and causing a drop in temperature. Visibility remained low, making movement difficult for commuters. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 28°C, while the minimum may dip to 14°C.The foggy conditions, coupled with 18 km/hour winds and 50 per cent humidity, have created a chilly atmosphere.

In the past 24 hours, no case of stubble burning has been recorded. The state recorded 1020 active fire locations (AFLs), a major fall from the last season when the state had recorded 1,813 cases till November 12 from September 15.

With 180 cases, Kaithal is leading the state, followed by Kurukshetra (130), Jind (112), Fatehabad (101), Karnal (87), Ambala (85), Sirsa (58), Sonepat (53), Faridabad (43), Palwal (38), Yamunanagar (35), and Panipat (32). However, the number of AFL is lower in other districts.

As per the bulletin of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of Tuesday, a majority of residents of the major cities grappled with smog as the air quality index (AQI) remained poor in these cities. However, the air quality of some cities has improved, but is still hazardous.

The AQI of Kaithal is 292, while Panchkula recorded 258, Jind (252), Sonepat (249), Bahadurgarh (228), Rohtak (225), Kurukshetra (224), Gurugram (219), and Yamunanagar (297). However, Karnal is in the moderate category.

Experts say apart from stubble burning in Haryana and neighbouring states, there are several major contributors to poor air quality which are vehicular emissions, industrial pollution and seasonal weather patterns that trap pollutants close to the ground.

“This year, we have witnessed a fall in the cases of stubble burning, but still there are some major challenges which contribute to poor air quality,” said an official of the Agriculture Department.

Due to poor air quality, the residents complain of breathing difficulties, burning eyes, sore throats and headaches. The Health Department has advised the people to minimize outdoor activities, wear masks to reduce exposure to pollutants.

“Many patients are coming to the OPD with symptoms of difficulty in breathing, burning eyes and others. The air quality is poor, so people should avoid the areas with pollutants, smoke and dust, which can precipitate respiratory diseases like bronchial asthma and can aggravate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),” said Dr Amanddeep, head of the Medicine Department of Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College (KCGMC).