With the AQI surging to 384, the city ranked second among the world’s top ten most polluted cities.
According to IQAir, the average air quality remained in the hazardous category, with PM2.5 levels recorded at 53.4 times higher than the World Health Organization’s annual PM2.5 guideline value. The most polluted localities included Liberty (557), Allama Iqbal Town (511), A Block, Model Town (418), Barki Road (379), B Block, Phase 5, DHA (348), Bedian Road (342), Johar Town (330), Askari X (273) and Cantonment (262). Lahore experienced light and scattered rain on Monday evening, intensifying foggy and hazy conditions, while the MET office forecast cloudy and cold weather for Tuesday.
Drizzle was reported in various areas, leading to a further drop in temperatures. The light rain also reduced visibility across the provincial capital, making roads slippery and slowing traffic flow. The minimum temperature was recorded at 11°C, while the maximum reached 21°C. Localities that received light rain included Abbot Road, Garhi Shahu, Mughalpura, Shad Bagh, Thokar Niaz Baig, Multan Road, Shahpur Kanjran and Chohang. Meanwhile, dense fog forced the closure of motorways at several points due to low visibility in different cities of the country.
Motorways closed at many places as dense fog blankets parts of Punjab: Dense fog again blanketed plain areas of Punjab including Lahore on night between Sunday and Monday, forcing closure of various motorway sections due to low visibility.
The thick fog has badly affected the flow of road traffic in several cities. According to a Motorway spokesperson, the Motorway M2 from Lahore to Kot Momin, Motorway M3 from Lahore to Darkhana, Motorway M4 from Pindi Bhattian Abdul Hakim, Motorway M5 from Multan to Zahir Pir and Motorway M11 from Lahore to Sialkot have been closed for all kind of traffic.
According to the Motorway Police sources, safe travel times in fog are from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. The Motorway police have appealed the drivers to use Grand Trunk (GT) Road for travelling. They have also urged the drivers to drive slowly and switch on fog lights.
The Motorway police have also requested the people to stay home and avoid unnecessary travelling. Dense fog has also disrupted traffic at several places in the province at the National Highway as visibility is from zero to 100 meters.
Rescue 1122 high alert amid heavy rain and snowfall forecast in Murree: The Punjab Emergency Service Rescue 1122 remained on high alert and in full readiness in view of the forecast of heavy rain, hailstorm and snowfall in Murree and adjoining areas, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
Acting on the special directives of Secretary Emergency Services Punjab Dr Rizwan Naseer (Sitara-i-Imtiaz), Rescue 1122 emergency teams in Murree were mobilised in the field with full resources and equipment to deal with any eventuality. “All personnel are on round-the-clock alert to ensure a swift response during adverse weather conditions,” a Rescue 1122 spokesman said.
He said additional emergency teams were deployed in urban areas and along major highways to promptly handle potential accidents, traffic disruptions and any unforeseen situation.
The spokesman said rescue personnel, equipped with specialised equipment, were kept in full readiness to deal with stranded vehicles and accidents caused by slippery roads due to snowfall.
He advised citizens and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel and undertake journeys only in case of extreme necessity.
He urged the public to adopt precautionary measures during heavy rain, hail and snowfall, reduce vehicle speed and remain at safe locations.
The public was also advised to stay updated about the prevailing weather situation and immediately call Rescue 1122 in case of any emergency.
Snowfall at Babusar Pass takes tourists over the moon: The moderate rain with snowfall at breathtaking Babusar Pass in Upper Kaghan turned the weather extremely cold amid thrill and excitement by tourists.
The tourists with families arrived from plains districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were over the moon during snowfall at the famous Babusar Top, known for its mesmerizing natural beauty and mountain splendor.
Malaika Bibi, a seventh-grade student at Peshawar, was overwhelmed by the moderate snowfall and grandeur of Pakistan’s mesmerizing beauty as he travelled to the famous Babsar pass.
Accompanied by her parents, Malaika’s dream of visiting Babusar top connecting Upper Kaghan Manshera with Chilas Gilgit Balistan over an altitude of 13,691 feet above the sea level with national flag hoisting high came true after witnessing snowfall, serene lakes and lush green valleys on its routes starting from Naran-Kaghan and Babusar Top, making her joy memorable.
“I have waited eagerly for this snowfall as my father, a government servant, has promised me for this memorable trip for which a big thank you to my sweet papa for fulfilling my childhood dream today,” said Malaika while throwing snowballs to her brother at Babusar Top.
She said the stunning beauty of frrezing small and large glaciers on the Snowclad Mountains such as Malika Parbath of Hamalaya, Saiful Malook, Ansu and Lalusar lake take tourists over the moon.