Pakistan shuts schools, ban weddings as toxic smog grips several parts of country
PTC News Desk: As the city of Lahore is witnessing worsening air pollution, at least 15,000 cases of respiratory discomfort and viral infections have been reported in just 24 hours. Hospitals in Lahore are inundated with patients with breathing difficulties, pneumonia and chest infections.
Health officials have warned that children and people with pre-existing conditions are prone to toxic smog. The smog has led to an increase in various viral diseases, including pneumonia, chest infections, and skin diseases.
In the wake of the worsening air quality, country has issued a series of guidelines to mitigate the alarming levels of pollution, several administration has imposed a three-month ban on the weddings and schools and colleges have also been shut. The Air Quality Index in parts of the Punjab region of Pakistan spiked to more than 1,900.
Speaking on the thick layer of pollution, NASA MODIS reported, "The tan haze is so thick that it completely obscures the landscape of Pakistan from view. Irregular patches of a lighter color indicate that fog hugs the ground underneath the haze. The city of Lahore, Pakistan--which has ranked as the most polluted city in the world in recent days--is located near the northeastern edge of the fog."
- With inputs from agencies
