Ali Hassan
Dense fog continued to persist in the City and its suburbs on Monday, disrupting the road, rail and air traffic and badly hampered routine life.
According to Motorway and Highways Police, M3 Motorway has been closed for traffic after dense fog blanketed it, as it will be too hazardous for motorists keeping in view the almost zero-visibility. The Motorway M-3 section from to Darkhana was closed for kind of traffic, the motorway authority informed.
According to the motorway authority, visibility reduced to as low as 50 meters in different parts of the province. The advisory issued on Monday directed people to avoid unnecessary travel and in case of necessity, maintain reasonable distance from the next car to avoid untoward situation which is highly likely in smog.
The motorway authority has advised people to reach out to their helpline 130 for more details and about the place they intend to travel to.
On the other hand, fog almost disrupted flight operation at Allama Iqbal International Airport. Various domestic and international flights were suspended due to dense fog. According to CAA officials, nine flights were cancelled and 14 were delayed by the fog.
Cancelled flights: PA-416 to Dubai, flight PA417 from Dubai, flight EBR-542 from Quetta, flight ER-543 to Quetta, flight XY-317 from Riyadh, flight XY-318 to Riyadh, flight PK-306 from Karachi, flight PA-4711 from Jeddah and Karachi-bound flight PK-307. Delayed flights include QR-620 from Doha delayed for 13 hours, QR 621 to Doha delayed for 12 hours and 20 minutes, J509 to Kuwait delayed for 10 hours, TK-714 from Istanbul delayed by six hours and British Airways flight BA-259 from London is delayed by three and a half hours.
The Pakistan Met Office said continental air is prevailing over most parts of the country and cold and dry weather prevailed over most parts of the country in the last 24 hours.
