Severe smog forces VP Dhankhar’s aircraft to divert, cancels Ludhiana visit

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s visit to Ludhiana on Tuesday was disrupted by severe smog, which hindered his aircraft from landing at Halwara airbase. Initially scheduled to attend two key events at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Sat Paul Mittal School in Dugri, Dhankhar’s plane was unable to make the landing due to poor visibility caused by the dense smog. The aircraft was first diverted to Amritsar, but as conditions there remained equally problematic, the Vice President’s visit was ultimately canceled. This disruption highlighted the ongoing air quality crisis in Punjab, where residents have been grappling with severe pollution for over a week.

Ludhiana, along with other parts of Punjab, has been covered by a thick blanket of smog since November 5. On Tuesday, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 213, classified as hazardous. The persistent lack of sunshine has worsened the air quality, with smog obscuring visibility to near zero in some areas. The haze is primarily attributed to a combination of factors, including crop residue burning (stubble burning), dust particles from firecrackers, and minimal wind speeds that have allowed pollutants to accumulate in the air. KK Gill, principal agrometeorologist at PAU, noted that the particles from stubble burning, coupled with aerosols from firecrackers, have combined to create a smog-filled environment with poor visibility. Additionally, the high moisture levels in the atmosphere and warm nights have created conditions conducive to smog and fog formation.

As of November 11, Punjab has reported 7,029 stubble burning incidents, a notable decrease from over 24,000 in the same period last year. Despite this reduction, stubble burning continues to contribute significantly to the deteriorating air quality in the region. Experts at PAU have pointed out that low wind speeds are preventing the dispersion of these pollutants, exacerbating the smog issue. Furthermore, the ongoing harvest season, with its high levels of crop residue burning, has led to prolonged air pollution, particularly in the days following Diwali, when additional pollutants from firecrackers also entered the atmosphere. The combination of these factors has left the region shrouded in dense smog, resulting in severe air quality issues.

The pollution crisis has sparked political debate. Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu criticized the state government, calling it a "big shame" and "irony" that the Vice President was unable to attend a climate change event due to the very pollution that the event aimed to address. He urged Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to work with the central government to develop a more comprehensive approach to tackle the air quality crisis in the state. Bittu emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that it was "tragic and unfortunate" that the Vice President’s aircraft could not land after multiple attempts. In response, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Malvinder Kang countered Bittu’s statement, pointing out that stubble burning incidents had dropped significantly this year and accusing Bittu of making politically motivated remarks. Kang also highlighted that the state government had been working to reduce stubble burning, despite limited resources.

According to weather experts, the smog problem is expected to persist until the end of November. Dr. Sompal Singh, a professor of agricultural meteorology at PAU, explained that the wheat sowing season, which runs from October 15 to November 15, has contributed to an increase in stubble burning. As the harvest period ends and farmers clear their fields for the upcoming wheat crop, the burning of paddy straw has worsened air quality. However, experts predict that air quality could improve in late November once the stubble burning decreases. Despite this, for the time being, the region remains heavily affected by the ongoing pollution, with little sign of immediate relief.