Cloud of dust hangs over region, flights grounded
CHANDIGARH/PATIALA: A cloud of dust hung over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Shimla on Thursday, disrupting flights and prompting the authorities to suspend civil construction in Delhi and Haryana as part of emergency measures to improve air quality.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality deteriorated due to dust storms in western India, particularly Rajasthan, which increased coarser particles in the air.
Poor visibility forced 27 flights, to and from Delhi airport, to remain grounded, while all 33 flights from Chandigarh were cancelled on Thursday. Haze and mist engulfed Shimla in the morning, resulting in the cancellation of the Air India flight.
Both in Delhi and Haryana, the authorities ordered stoppage of all civil construction activities in the national capital region till Sunday. Hot mix plants and stone crushers would also not be operated for two days.
Punjab fared no better with the air quality index (AQI) deteriorating beyond severe. All air quality monitoring stations in the state recorded an AQI between 459 to over 500 microgram/m3. Air is considered good if the AQI is less than 50 microgram/m3. The industrial town of Mandi Gobindgarh recorded an AQI of 500, while Ludhiana recorded 488, Rupnagar 471 and Amritsar recorded 459 microgram/m3. Before the haze set in, the AQI was between 80 and 130 microgram/m3 in Punjab, barring Mandi Gobindgarh, where it was 258 microgram/m3.
Punjab Pollution Control Board chairman KS Pannu said, “The Met department has said that the dust particles will settle down on Friday when rain is forecast in Punjab and other parts of north India.”