Smog cuts short first air show in Kapurthala

KAPURTHALA:Low visibility due to air pollution cut short the firstever aerobatics show performed by Surya Kiran aerobatics team of the Air Force in Kapurthala.

The show started at 12pm, an hour late than its scheduled time, and concluded within five minutes due to heavy smog. The air show was performed by the IAF officials led by group Captain Prashant Grover.

The team comprised nine highly proficient pilots, including Wing Commander Gurpreet Singh Dhillon and Squadron Leader Navjot Singh, both alumni of Kapurthala Sainik School, who flown over the school only once and went back to Pathankot airbase.

Thousands of students from 25 different schools of Kapurthala were present to witness the first air show of its kind at Sainik School, here.

A pollution control board officer said that the show was affected due to smog and the primary reason behind it was stubble burning. As per the information, around 51 cases of stubble burning have been detected in Kapurthala and Jalandhar districts.

“Air pollution and stubble burning cases might rise in coming days as most of the farmers in Kapurthala and Jalandhar are yet to harvest their crop. On Tuesday, air quality index (AQI) was reported 100 in Jalandhar which is considered satisfactory,” said environmental engineer Arun Kakkar.

Amanjot Singh, a student of Class 8, said that it was his first show but it ended in just a few minutes. “We waited for two hours, but the show ended in just five minutes due to bad weather. It was disappointing.”

Col Vikas Mohan, principal, Sainik School, Kapurthala, said the event was aimed at motivating students to join the defence forces.