Raging Mizoram fire leads to pollution

AIZAWL: Massive smoke caused by forest fires has led to pollution and increase in the average temperature in Mizoram, the state Pollution Control Board said.

The quantity of nitrogen dioxide in the air stood at 19.5 ppm on March 12, but it remained negligible on a normal day, when measured by the high volume sampler, the board secretary, C Lalduhawma said.

He feared that even the amount of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide might have increased.

"The readings of 19.5 ppm nitrogen dioxide would be normal for the metropolitan cities in the country, but it is very high for Mizoram, which is regarded as pollution free," he said, adding it could trigger a plethora of health hazards in the state especially respiratory problems.

He added that the temperature in the capital city Aizawl has gone up by 1.22 degree Celsius when compared with the average temperature of the last ten years.

Meanwhile, all flights to and fro the state's lone Lengpui Airport remained cancelled due to low visibility caused by smoke, airlines officials said.

Forest inferno caused by burning of jhum cultivation often spreads out to other areas and so far, taken away four lives besides causing loss to flaura and fauna for the past two months.