Drizzle offers respite to smog-choked Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 11: After a prolonged dry spell, Srinagar finally experienced a drizzle, bringing a slight relief to residents. More rain is expected this week, which many hope will help clear the smog that has choked the region’s urban areas in recent days. The relief, however, is temporary.

Amidst dipping temperatures and Kashmir skies turning cloudy, the air quality of Srinagar goes for a toss. The thickening layers of smog engulf the city and the suburbs, deteriorating the health of people, especially those suffering from respiratory ailments and allergies. Last week, although the cloud cover was sparse, thick layers of smog were seen across the length and breadth of Srinagar and in many other parts of Kashmir. After many months of having pristine air quality, as per the Air Quality Monitoring websites, Srinagar air had suddenly turned into a thick admixture of PM2.5. The PM2.5 readings on weather and air-quality websites ranged between 230 to 302, indicating ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ air quality.

PM2.5 is a measurement of particles less than 2.5 microns suspended in air, indicating its quality.  The more the PM2.5 value, the worse the health outcomes as these particles can easily penetrate our respiratory system and cause worsening of asthma, and bronchitis and trigger other allergy attacks. PM2.5 is contributed to the air by burning fossil fuels, wood, and other fuels.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, the Head of the Department of Pulmonology at GMC Srinagar, Prof Naveed Nazir Shah highlighted how recent dry weather patterns have worsened air quality, keeping smoke, dust, and other pollutants suspended in the air due to the absence of rain, which would otherwise help wash these particles out of the atmosphere.

“This build-up of pollutants, combined with colder temperatures, significantly increases respiratory health risks. Cold air is harder on the respiratory system, causing airways to constrict and may trigger conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and other lung-related issues, especially in vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions,” he said. “The dryness in the air further irritates respiratory tracts, making people more susceptible to respiratory infections and inflammatory responses. Additionally, the combination of fog and smoke creates a thick smog layer that not only worsens visibility but also acts as an irritant, causing discomfort to the eyes, throat, and lungs.”

This smog not only aggravates symptoms in those with existing respiratory conditions but also contributes to an increase in new cases, placing additional strain on healthcare resources.

Even though many blame the excess of smoke in the air on the high number of vehicles in Kashmir, the exhaust from cars and other means of transport would remain the same throughout the year.  However, in winter, the exhaust from vehicles, plus the additional smoke from burning horticulture and agriculture waste does not escape the atmosphere. This is attributed to ‘temperature inversion’: when a layer of warmer air traps cooler air near the ground, reversing the normal pattern where air cools with altitude. This ‘blanket’ prevents pollutants from dispersing upward, leading to higher concentrations of smog and particulate matter close to the surface. Inversions are common in valleys and during calm, clear weather, especially in winter, worsening air quality by keeping pollutants near ground level.

A recent study reveals that air pollution in Srinagar is significantly influenced by both human activities and specific weather patterns, especially during winter. Factors like temperature inversions, stagnant winds, limited atmospheric mixing and a shallow planetary boundary layer lead to higher pollution levels by trapping emissions close to the ground. Biomass fuel burning, vehicle emissions, and particulate matter transported by westerly winds from distant regions all contribute to the problem, with PM2.5 levels reaching as high as 348 µg/m³—far above India’s permissible limit of 60 µg/m³. These findings underscore the urgent need for tailored pollution control measures. The study, titled Particulate Pollution over an Urban Himalayan Site: Temporal Variability, Impact of Meteorology, and Potential Source Regions, is authored by Prof Shakil Romshoo and others and published in Science of the Total Environment.