LAHORE: Rain and strong westerly wind on Thursday shooed away thick smog that had canopied the city last night after smoke of the burning crop stubble in the adjoining Indian Punjab towns permeated Lahore and its adjoining areas, alarming the people and government alike.

The Met Office had said the smoke (smog) would settle because of thunderstorm/rain on Thursday.

Clouds began to cover the city during the early hours of the day, causing rain in some localities and settling the air pollutants to some extent. The accompanying wind did the rest as it pushed back smog to the Indian side.

Accompanied by strong winds, it continued to drizzle intermittently and partially throughout the day, keeping atmosphere clear of the dreadful smog for the day. Temperatures too lowered, bringing about chill in the wind.

The Met Office said the rain was generated by a strong westerly wave that basically affected upper parts of the country and it was likely to move eastwards during next 12 hours.

It gave good amount of rain in some parts of the country in the last 24 hours. Garidupatta recorded 36mm, Muzaffarabad (Airport 34, City 30), Rawalakot 30, Kotli 27, Murree 63, Sialkot (Airport 46, city 41), Narowal 25, Islamabad 16 , Mangla, Noorpur Thal 16, Hafizabad, Chakwal and Jhelum 14, Kasur 13, Gujrat 9, Jhang and Gujranwala 6, Jauharabad 5, Rawalpindi Chaklala 4, Toba Tek Singh 3, Lahore(city) and Bhakkar 1, Kakul 22, Balakot 19, Upper Dir 14, Bannu 2, Chilas 19, Astore 16, Gilgit 11, Bagrote 8 and Bunji 5.

The Met department forecast widespread rain/thunderstorm (with heavy falls at a few places) in districts of upper Punjab, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, at scattered places in districts of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa? central Punjab and Islamabad during Thursday night. Snowfall over mountains and hailstorm in plain areas are also expected during the period.

It will remain mainly dry most parts of the country on Friday. However, rain/thunderstorm is expected at isolated places in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2019