Across northern India and neighboring Pakistan, the annual winter smog has blanketed iconic landmarks, impacted flights, and raised health concerns, as air quality reaches dangerously high levels.
The Taj Mahal in Agra and the Golden Temple in Amritsar are barely visible as dense layers of toxic smog obscure these famed sites. In New Delhi, pollution levels have entered the severe category, delaying flights and reducing visibility.
Iconic Landmarks Shrouded in Smog
The dense smog has severely affected visibility at some of India’s most revered historical sites. Television images and eyewitness accounts show the Taj Mahal—usually a symbol of awe and admiration—veiled in a grayish haze. The 17th-century white marble structure, located in Agra, is often shrouded in fog during the winter, but pollution levels this year have obscured its beauty more dramatically than ever.
Local residents and tourists have expressed disappointment and concern as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World has almost vanished behind the haze.
In Punjab’s Amritsar, the Golden Temple, a sacred pilgrimage site for Sikhs, has similarly succumbed to the smog. A thick fog enveloped worshippers at the shrine, dimming the otherwise glittering gold façade of the temple. In the capital, New Delhi, pollution levels have persisted in the “severe” category for consecutive days.
Flights were delayed, with nearly 88% of departures and 54% of arrivals affected due to low visibility, while conditions at Delhi’s international airport led to flight diversions when visibility dropped below 300 meters.
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The pollution index score for New Delhi recorded a high of 430, signaling an emergency situation where even healthy individuals may experience health effects, and serious impacts can be anticipated for vulnerable populations.
Rising Health Concerns as Smog Worsens
The toxic smog in northern India and Pakistan is exacerbating health issues, particularly for vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. In Fazilka, Punjab, Dr. Sahab Ram reported a surge in respiratory issues, including coughs, colds, allergies, and acute asthma attacks.
The alarming increase in patients presenting with these symptoms points to the dire consequences of the pollution, which, combined with falling temperatures and high humidity, has worsened air quality across the region.
ताजमहल की खूबसूरती पर कोहरे की चादर। #smog pic.twitter.com/PLfqiljBXq
— Utkarsh Singh (@utkarshs88) November 14, 2024
Hospitals in affected areas are seeing more patients, especially children, seeking treatment for respiratory ailments caused by the severe pollution. In New Delhi, the minimum temperature dropped from 17 to 16.1 degrees Celsius, a slight change that, coupled with calm winds, has allowed pollutants to settle close to the ground, further intensifying the health crisis.
Medical experts warn that prolonged exposure to this level of pollution can lead to long-term respiratory issues, especially among children and older adults, who are more susceptible to the harmful effects of airborne pollutants.
Schools and parents have been advised to restrict outdoor activities, and wearing protective masks has become more common as people try to safeguard themselves against the hazardous air quality.
Agricultural Fires and Cross-Border Pollution Crisis
One of the leading causes of this seasonal pollution is the burning of crop stubble, or agricultural waste, by farmers in India’s Punjab and Haryana states. This practice, known as stubble burning, helps farmers clear their fields for the next crop cycle but releases large amounts of smoke and particulate matter into the air.
Although illegal, the practice remains widespread due to limited alternatives and is a major contributor to the air pollution crisis that engulfs northern India and parts of Pakistan each winter. According to data from India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences, the number of farm fires increased from 1,200 on Monday to nearly 2,300 on Wednesday.
In Lahore, Pakistan, which lies in the eastern province of Punjab, the effects of transboundary pollution are equally severe. Lahore ranked as the world’s most polluted city on Thursday, according to Swiss air quality monitoring group IQAir.
Authorities in both India and Pakistan have struggled to manage the hazardous air, which has led to significant health risks and visibility issues in both countries. The air quality index (AQI) in these areas consistently remains in the “hazardous” or “severe” categories, endangering millions of residents who are exposed to these dangerous conditions daily.
Efforts to control air pollution have included fines for stubble burning and the promotion of cleaner technologies for waste disposal, yet enforcement remains a challenge. The lack of effective solutions has left both governments and citizens grappling with a recurring environmental disaster.
In urban areas like New Delhi and Lahore, emission sources from vehicles and industry further compound the problem. Urban pollution, combined with agricultural smoke and stagnant winter weather, creates a toxic blend that devastates the region’s air quality each year. The rising levels of pollution in northern India and Pakistan call for stronger policy interventions and cooperation to mitigate the annual smog crisis.
The thick smog obscuring the Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple is a powerful symbol of the severe air pollution that plagues northern India and Pakistan.
As flights are delayed, hospital visits increase, and historic landmarks fade from view, the urgency to address this issue becomes ever more critical. Pollution levels in these regions are not merely an inconvenience; they are a public health emergency with long-term implications for millions of people.
While solutions are complex, there is an urgent need for enhanced regulations, enforcement, and public awareness. Addressing the root causes of pollution, such as agricultural burning, vehicle emissions, and industrial pollutants, requires cooperation at both national and international levels.
Until sustainable solutions are implemented, residents in affected areas will continue to face the health risks and environmental degradation associated with toxic winter smog.
let’s enjoy few years on earth with peace and happiness….✍🏼🙏