Dense Fog Throws Capital’s Transportation System into Disarray

APP
Islamabad: The persistent blanket of dense fog enveloping the capital city, akin to other regions across the country, has unleashed travel chaos for commuters throughout both morning and night hours.
The reduced visibility has not only disrupted travel but also poses health hazards, particularly affecting vulnerable groups over the past several days.
The unusually dense foggy conditions prevailing in the capital, as ascribed by the weather experts to the absence of rain during this winter season due to climatic changes, have disrupted not only road travel but flight operations too in the fog-bearing areas of the country.
The persistent fog and smog due to the insignificant rain during this winter season have caused diseases among the citizens, especially old people and children with low immunity levels.
According to health experts, the major sufferers of seasonal diseases, especially influenza, cough, and fever, are children and the elderly due to their weak immune systems, while the number of pneumonia cases among children has also witnessed a surge during this month.
The health experts have suggested taking those diets, which can boost their immunity to fight seasonal diseases, reverting to organic foods, and handling such issues with home remedies. Those with serious conditions, especially continuous fever, must contact their health providers immediately.
While living in the federal capital for the last 20 years, dense foggy conditions with reduced visibility levels are unusual for me. Even though I could see the visible fog these days, Maimoona Ali, a mother of three children who daily travels from Rawalpindi to Islamabad to attend her office,.
My children have suffered from prolonged sickness, including influenza, cough, and high fever, twice during these months. The doctor was of the view that the virus has mutated into a dangerous one this winter due to a lack of rain, so there is a need to boost the immunity of children by giving them organic food and using green tea with honey and ginger, she said.
Murad Khan, a father of two school-going kids, said, I was traveling from G-9/4 to F-7/1 in the morning around 7:45 am to drop my kids off at school and was hardly saved from an accident due to zero visibility.
I couldn’t see the car in front of me due to the dense foggy conditions, which are very risky and unsafe, he said while urging the concerned authorities to change the timing of schools during the dense foggy conditions.
Keeping in view the health issues, the majority of the parents have demanded that the concerned authorities announce relaxation in the timings of the educational institutions during the morning hours to save them from any untoward situation.
Showing her concern, a mother of three school-going children, Naheed Raza, said, If the dense foggy situation persists in the coming days, the authorities must consider changing the timings of schools for small kids to save them from fog, smog, and chilly weather effects.
She said that the chilly weather due to dipping mercury has made it difficult for the kids to go to school, while the risk of catching viruses from other affected children in schools also looms even if they are healthy.
According to the weather experts, dense fog is likely to continue in Islamabad, plain areas of Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and upper Sindh during the next few days.
The daytime temperatures are likely to remain below normal in most parts of Punjab due to dense fog. Exposure to the foggy environment can cause health issues among the citizens; therefore, they are advised to be cautious.
Flights, railways, and highway/motorway operations are also facing disruption during the foggy conditions. The travelers have been advised to remain cautious during the foggy days due to the reduced visibility level and avoid unnecessary travel during the morning and night hours.