Dust blankets Punjab, Haryana; Chandigarh airport remains shut

All national and international flights from the Chandigarh International Airport remained suspended on Friday, the second day, owing to low visibility due to a blanket of dust haze that covered Punjab and Haryana for the third day.

A day before also, more than 30 flights were cancelled here as visibility levels dropped considerably due to the dust haze. Air quality and visibility levels have been hit by the dust haze.

The Met Department has forecast thunderstorm with squall at isolated places in Haryana and Punjab in next two days.Director Met Department, Surender Pal said that western disturbances are approaching the region which will bring rains either on Friday night or Saturday morning and help improve the situation.

The dust will settle down after the rainfall, he added.

In view of severe dust pollution, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) had on Thursday issued an advisory that no construction activity could be carried out for the next two days in districts falling under the National Capital Region (NCR).