Fog engulf plains, throws traffic out of gear

Fog engulfed plains of the Punjab province, throwing air and road traffic out of gear, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported late Tuesday.

Various Motorway sections have been shut due to zero visibility, officials said. According to sources, poor visibility disrupted flight operations at the Lahore airport.

The runway has been shut for landing and take-off, the sources said, adding that the pilots have been directed to seek prior permission. 

A Sharjah-bound flight, PK185, was cancelled, the insiders said, adding that Kula Lumpur-bound PIA flight, PK898, and Airblue flight PA471 have been cancelled while flights were rescheduled keeping in view the poor visibility level.

They added that PK204 coming to Lahore from Dubai will land at 2:20 pm, the insiders said. According to a spokesperson, the Motorway sections have been closed due to zero visibility.

Motorists have been urged to avoid unnecessary travel and opt for travel during the day. The people have been asked to adopt safety measures like the use of fog lights, refraining from speeding and maintaining proper distance to avert untoward incidents.

Traffic troubles like snarl-ups and minor mishaps were reported from a few points. However, no causalities have been reported so far. 

According to officials, poor visibility made sections of M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, and M11 close. The duration of fog on national highways increased and the safe travel time is from 10 am to 6 pm in the foggy season.

Call 130 for any information and in case of emergency, the spokesperson said, adding that the Motorways will be opened when the visibility level improves.