A gridlock is witnessed on Sharae Faisal as a blanket of fog covers buildings and limits visibility for motorists on Thursday morning. PHOTO: RASHID AJMERI/EXPRESS
The people of Karachi must brace themselves for a foggy morning today as the meteorological department has forecasted dense clouds of tiny water droplets in the atmosphere.
On Thursday morning, the weather turned pleasant and visibility at ground level was reduced to less than one kiolmetre in many areas of Karachi after the city witnesses its first unexpected fog of the winter season. This not only affected vehicular traffic but a few flights at Jinnah International Airport were also suspended. The areas where dense fog was reported include Airport, Shah Faisal Colony, Landhi, Korangi, National Highway, Super Highway, Nazimabad, SITE, Clifton, DHA, Ibrahim Hyderi and Baldia.
According to the National Weather Forecasting Centre, when the air on the ground level cools down under humid condition, water vapours in the air condense into tiny droplets, reducing the visibility on ground level. Fog is a common wintertime phenomenon, especially between December and February. According to Tauseef Aalam, the spokesperson for the Met department, fog is generated when the differences between temperature and dew point is generally less than 2.5 centigrade. “There was mist before the fog which started at 6.30am and continued till 10.30am. Low visibility was reported between 7am to 7.30am,” he explained.
On the other hand, many people were stuck on National Highway and main roads of Karachi. Schoolchildren and parents suffered as the police was missing to direct the traffic. However, Traffic SP South Tanveer Odho denied traffic congestion problems due to the foggy morning, saying that the traffic flow in the morning is relatively slow and by the peak hours, the fog had disappeared. “In Karachi, the increased pressure from traffic starts after 9am and before that the fog had disappeared,” he said. He advised the motorists to keep their parking lights and indicators on while travelling. “The commuters should drive slowly and exercise caution on roads to avoid accidents.”
He informed that the traffic police will be using LED lights to divert traffic and they will be wearing light reflection clothes in case there was fog in the city. “We will also be deploying extra force if needed but we have not received any information about fog on Friday,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2013.
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Morning Fog usually only shows the moisture raising from the comparatively warmer land is blocked from rising by a colder air above it. It become smog(Smoke in the fog) when the city authorities did not implement auto and industry smoke regulations. Many world cities from New York, LA to London and Paris now have perfect blue skies after running a hectic campaign against bad car engines and all smoke producing other small and large engines and fuels.
With reference to comment by netizen, I can only say that so called prestigious institutions of army and navy have always had commercial agendas of their own. What about that? While I agree that those ugly large hoardings are not adding any beauty or are rather nuisance to the urban look of the city (I dont think there are that much of hoardings in cities like Lahore, Islamabad or Mumbai and New Delhi).
But there is no use of having this discussion here as maybe the prestigious army and navy are filling their pockets (like they do evertime) with this massive commmercialization.
The hoardings are looking hideous and ugly. Even the Army and Navy area's are not spared. The above picture of Share Faisal near army mess is a case in point. This is crass commercialization...need to be stopped, blocking the open vies and giving a claustrophobic feeling. The navy areas on Karsaz road, in front of 'NUST' and 'Arena' is also being encroached upon by a new breed of hoardings on the wall. Giving bad reputation to those prestigious institutions of Army and Navy.