Lahore receives first artificial rain to fight smog
Lahore, Dec 16: Lahore, one of the world’s most polluted cities, on Saturday received its first artificial rain, following an experiment conducted by Pakistan’s Punjab government with the help of the UAE to combat smog. Addressing a press conference here, the Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that the experiment was conducted in 10 areas of Lahore and it was successful. “Around 10 per cent of areas in Lahore received rainfall today due to cloud seeding experiments,” he said, adding that at least 48 flares were deployed for cloud seeding. “Light showers were witnessed in the 10 areas of 15 km radius. The results of the experiment are being further gauged,” he said. “Not a single penny was spent for the artificial rain. To combat smog, the government is ready to take any measure,” the chief minister said. He also thanked the UAE government’s help in initiating the artificial rain, also known as cloud seeding, to wash away pollutants in the air in the provincial capital. Last month, local media reported that the Punjab province is planning to carry out an artificial rain experiment with China’s help in Lahore, a project estimated to cost Rs 350 million in the cash-strapped country. Artificial rain is a weather modification technique that aims to stimulate precipitation. This is done by introducing different substances into clouds that further promote the formation of raindrops. Lahore was among the worst polluted cities in the world. (PTI)
7 women injured in mortar shell explosion in Pak
Peshawar, Dec 16: Seven women were critically injured in a mortar shell explosion in Pakistan’s restive northwest region, police said on Saturday. The incident took place in Habib Kot Adana, located in South Waziristan, within the jurisdiction of the Laddha police station on Friday. SHO Police Station Makeen Muhammad Shuaib said. The incident took place when the women were collecting timber at a nearby mountain for domestic use during severe harsh cold weather, said Muhammad Shuaib, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Makeen police station. A mortar shell, fired from an undisclosed location, detonated with a powerful blast, critically injuring the seven women, he said. The injured victims were shifted to Razmak hospital in Wana, the SHO said. (PTI)
26 injured in grenade explosion in Ukraine
Kiev, Dec 16: At least 26 people were injured when a local deputy detonated several grenades in a village council building in Ukraine’s western Zakarpattia region, the National Police said. The incident occurred at about 11:37 a.m. local time on Friday in the village of Keretsky during the council meeting, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a Telegram post by the police. Six of the injured have been hospitalized in severe condition. According to the TSN.ua media outlet, the conflict between the attacker and the head of the Keretsky territorial community was behind the attack. Ukrainian authorities are investigating the incident on charges of terrorism and illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives, said the news agency. (IANS)