Haryana Faces Severe Fog and Pollution; AQI Hits Dangerous Levels

Chandigarh, Haryana: Haryana is currently experiencing severe fog and pollution, affecting 14 districts. From Friday, mining activities have been banned in these areas, and the state government has left it to district authorities to decide on school closures for children up to class 5.

Heavy Fog and Poor Visibility
On Friday, dense fog and mist engulfed the northern state of Haryana. In western districts like Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Hisar, visibility dropped to as low as 50 meters. In areas like Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal, Rewari, Jhajjar, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rohtak, Sonipat, Panipat, Jind, and Charkhi Dadri, visibility ranged from 50 to 100 meters, with some places reporting as little as 20 meters of visibility. The meteorological department has issued both Orange and Yellow alerts for fog across Haryana, effective until November 16.

Pollution Crisis: AQI Reaches Dangerous Levels
In addition to fog, pollution levels have worsened, with air quality indices (AQI) crossing the 400 mark in 11 cities. Jind recorded an alarming AQI of 500. This level of pollution is equivalent to inhaling 20 to 25 cigarettes per day. The government has implemented GRAP 3 (Graded Response Action Plan) to combat pollution and reduce its effects.

School Closures and Public Health Concerns
Haryana’s Education Minister, Mahipal Dhanda, stated that district deputy commissioners will decide whether schools should be closed due to the weather and pollution. The affected districts include Faridabad, Gurgaon, Rewari, Sonipat, Panipat, and others in the NCR region.

Smog and its Impact
The fog has combined with air pollution particles to form smog, severely impacting urban areas. This has led to a decline in air quality, with Gurgaon, Panchkula, and several other cities seeing their AQI levels in the “very poor” category.

Despite the pollution, agricultural experts have noted that the fog has benefited crops like wheat, mustard, and vegetables, as it helps in their growth. However, traffic has been slow, particularly on national highways and in urban areas, due to reduced visibility.