Smog Envelops Iconic Landmarks Amid Severe Pollution Spike in South Asia

Severe smog has shrouded famous South Asian landmarks, including the Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple, causing flight delays and health issues across India and Pakistan. Factors such as dust, emissions, and farm fires have exacerbated pollution levels, impacting air quality and leading to increased hospital visits.

Severe smog engulfed South Asia's iconic sites, including India's Taj Mahal and Amritsar's Golden Temple, disrupting air travel on Thursday. The region grapples with thick pollution worsened by dust and illegal farm fires.

In Agra, the Taj Mahal's visibility was drastically reduced, while dense fog enshrouded worshippers at the Golden Temple, as shown in televised images. Delhi flights experienced notable delays, with Flightradar24 showing 88% of departures and 54% of arrivals were affected.

The smog, blamed on a mix of high pollution, humidity, and stagnant winds, cut visibility to 300 meters at Delhi's airport. Hospitals reported a surge in patients, especially children, suffering from allergies and asthma, amid the declining air quality.

(With inputs from agencies.)