Srinagar, Dec 13: Simply stepping outside in Srinagar on a polluted day may be doing the same harm as smoking several cigarettes, an independent weather expert, Faizan Arif told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) on Saturday.
Arif while highlighting the growing public health risk posed by the city’s deteriorating air quality said, “Current pollution levels in Srinagar mean residents are unknowingly inhaling air comparable to cigarette smoke.”
“On an average day with present pollution levels, breathing Srinagar’s air for 24 hours is roughly equal to smoking three to four cigarettes,” he said.
He explained that this exposure adds up quickly. “That means nearly 25 cigarettes in a week and more than 100 cigarettes in a month, even for someone who has never smoked,” he said, calling the situation alarming.
Air quality data shows that fine particulate pollution, which can enter deep into the lungs, has remained consistently high in the city.
Srinagar’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) has stayed in the ‘poor’ category, while pollution levels spiked further over the past 24 hours, with AQI touching 180 and fine dust concentrations rising sharply.
Arif clarified that the estimate is based on globally accepted scientific comparisons used to explain pollution exposure in simple terms.
“This does not mean people are literally smoking cigarettes, but the damage to the lungs and heart can be similar when pollution levels remain high,” he said.
He cautioned that even short periods of severe pollution can have long-lasting health effects.
“High-pollution days leave an impact that cleaner days cannot completely undo. Repeated exposure increases the risk of breathing problems, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses,” Arif said.
“Repeated exposure to polluted air can damage the lungs and strain the heart, even among non-smokers,” said Dr Irfan Ahmad, a senior physician at a government hospital in Srinagar.
“People should avoid outdoor exercise during poor air quality, use masks when stepping out, and keep indoor spaces as clean and ventilated as possible. Those with asthma, heart disease, or allergies must be especially cautious and seek medical advice if symptoms worsen.”
Meanwhile, residents said air pollution in Srinagar has been worsening with each passing day. “On most days, the surrounding mountains are barely visible from my neighbourhood. The air feels heavy, and by evening there is irritation in the eyes and throat,” said a resident of Rajbagh.
Another resident, a fruit vendor in Lal Chowk, said the problem was no longer limited to peak winter. “Earlier this happened only during the coldest weeks, but now the haze lingers for days. We often limit outdoor work because breathing becomes uncomfortable,” he said.
Notably, temperatures dipped below freezing across many parts of the Kashmir Valley on Saturday, with dense fog persisting in several areas, affecting visibility and disrupting early morning traffic movement. (KNO)
