Several districts of Punjab witnessed heavy thunderstorm and lightning on late January 22 night. As per reports, hail was also witnessed in Dhilwan village of Jalandhar the same night. This rain and thunderstorm had caused major woes to the residents. Many residential areas saw waterlogging issues. All this ultimately took a toll on the traffic flow of the region and directly impacted daily commuters.
Rain amidst this winter chilly has also dipped the temperatures further but one of the major concerns hanging over the region has been washed away with the rain. The Air Quality Index in several districts of Punjab has significantly improved after the rain spell. This has significantly offered a temporary relief from the choking winter pollution.
Air quality index (AQI⁺) and PM2.5 air pollution in Jalandhar were recorded 75 today. Similarly, the AQI recorded in the nearby regions also saw improvement. Ludhiana recorded an AQI of 83, while in Amritsar it hovered around 88. Patiala's AQI was recorded 67, meanwhile Rupnagar recorded the lowest AQI at just 39, keeping it in the good category. The air quality of all the other mentioned regions is in the moderate category as of now. Usually in winters when fog mixes with pollution, it creates smog which ultimately leads to reduced visibility, respiratory problems, and long-term health issues, unlike natural, harmless fog. So, the rain has brought some significant relief as far as the pollution and air quality is concerned.