Punjab’s Smog Crisis: Flights Cancelled, Travelers Stranded Amid Severe Air Quality Decline

Saptrishi Soni:

In recent days, the smog enveloping Punjab has severely impacted daily life, disrupting everything from routine activities to major travel operations. The dense blanket of smoke and pollutants hanging over the region has thrown air travel into chaos, with passengers facing significant delays and cancellations. In a particularly shocking development, all flights from Amritsar Airport have been canceled as of this evening due to the worsening smog conditions, leaving travelers stranded and sparking widespread concern. The haze has intensified to such an extent that visibility at Amritsar’s airport—one of Punjab’s busiest hubs for domestic and international flights—has reached critically low levels, making safe takeoffs and landings nearly impossible.

Amritsar Airport serves thousands of passengers daily, many of whom rely on it to reach international destinations. This sudden cancellation of flights has left travelers frustrated and scrambling to make alternate plans, as the smog’s impact on air travel continues to grow. With the combination of changing weather patterns and persistent smog, not only have domestic flights been hit hard, but international travel has also come to a standstill, adding significant strain to travelers’ schedules and plans.

Environmental experts point to a range of causes for the severe air quality in Punjab, including the traditional practice of stubble burning by farmers in the region. Despite government efforts to reduce this agricultural practice, it remains a leading cause of smog in northern India during the winter season, when cold weather conditions and stagnant winds trap pollutants closer to the ground. This season’s smog levels have not only worsened overall air quality but have also highlighted the urgency of taking long-term action to mitigate pollution sources.

Passengers affected by these cancellations are being advised to stay updated on changing flight schedules, though the forecasted weather suggests that relief from the smog is unlikely in the coming days. This incident also underscores the growing need for sustainable agricultural practices and stricter pollution controls, as smog-related disruptions become an annual ordeal for the people of Punjab. In the meantime, residents and travelers are bearing the brunt of this crisis, forced to navigate not only health risks posed by poor air quality but also severe travel disruptions.

As Punjab continues to grapple with its ongoing air quality crisis, experts and environmentalists emphasize that immediate measures, along with long-term policy changes, are essential to prevent such disruptions in the future. For now, however, the impact on travel and the economy continues to deepen, with Punjab’s residents paying the price for another season of unrelenting pollution.

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