Toxic gray smog has sickened tens of thousands of people in Pakistan’s cultural capital of Lahore, forcing authorities to shut schools, markets and parks for four days, officials said Thursday.
The decision came after the country’s second-largest city, with a population of 11 million, was repeatedly ranked the world’s most polluted city. Doctors advised people to wear face masks and stay at home. Residents said many people were coughing and having breathing problems.
“Wearing of marks and staying at home are the two easiest solutions to avoid getting rushed to hospitals with respiratory-related diseases, infections in eyes and skin diseases,” said Salman Kazmi, a doctor at Lahore’s main Mayo Hospital, where thousands of people were treated for such ailments this week.
On Thursday, the concentration of PM 2.5, or tiny particulate matter, in the air approached 450, considered hazardous.
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It didn’t say why so I did a bit of searching
Traditionally, toward the end of the year after the winter harvest, millions of farmers clear their leftover rice stubble by setting fields alight to prepare for the incoming wheat crop. This, combined with vehicular and industrial pollution, has resulted in copious amounts of smog.
Is there a better way of clearing this crop by-product? Sounds like poisoning a city to clear fields quicker isn’t a good plan
Certainly better ways for the environment but fire is the fastest and the cheapest
This is the best summary I could come up with:
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Toxic gray smog has sickened tens of thousands of people in Pakistan’s cultural capital of Lahore, forcing authorities to shut schools, markets and parks for four days, officials said Thursday.
Doctors advised people to wear face masks and stay at home.
“Wearing of marks and staying at home are the two easiest solutions to avoid getting rushed to hospitals with respiratory-related diseases, infections in eyes and skin diseases,” said Salman Kazmi, a doctor at Lahore’s main Mayo Hospital, where thousands of people were treated for such ailments this week.
On Thursday, the concentration of PM 2.5, or tiny particulate matter, in the air approached 450, considered hazardous.
Experts say the burning of crop residue at the start of the winter wheat-planting season is a key cause of the pollution.
But rapid urbanization and surging population growth have left little room for greenery.
The original article contains 200 words, the summary contains 146 words. Saved 27%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
