Srinagar, Dec. 6 -- As winter sets in and temperatures continue to dip, Kashmir is witnessing a steady deterioration in air quality, raising serious public health concerns.

Environmental experts and doctors said that prolonged dry weather, increased traffic emissions, biomass burning, and industrial pollutants have pushed pollution levels up, particularly in urban pockets

Residents have reported a visible layer of haze over many parts of the Valley, while air quality monitors have repeatedly recorded PM2.5 and PM10 levels above safe limits in recent days.

The pollution levels remained high with PM10 ranging between 136 and 243 micrograms per cubic metre and PM2.5 between 86 and 167 micrograms per cubic metre, both far above the World H...