Heavy pollutants in the air last night again left city residents sleepless, with many complaining of throat irritation, persistent cough, and a burning sensation in the eyes. While stubble burning has seen a nearly 34 per cent decline in Jalandhar compared to last year, the toxic “parali” fires are not the only culprit. Adding to the choking smog is another overlooked source — construction waste. Clouds of smoke rising from burning debris have worsened the air quality, turning city streets into pockets of pollution.

The city recorded its highest AQI of the past week at 328 on the night of November 10. Although the AQI on November 11 showed a slight improvement, residents continued to report discomfort after dusk due to poor air quality. At the time of filing this report, Jalandhar’s AQI s

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