Bahadurgarh tops the list of air pollution with an AQI of 400, Delhi ranks 10th | Today’s news
New Delhi: Haryana’s Bahadurgarh recorded the highest level of air pollution among the listed cities, with a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 400 at 4 pm on Monday, placing it in the “very poor” category, according to the official Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) SAMEER app bulletin. The 4pm AQI bulletin is based on a 24-hour average.
Charkhi Dadri in Haryana took second place with an AQI 389, followed by Khora in Uttar Pradesh 380 and Rohtak 378. Khairthal in Rajasthan recorded an AQI of 362, while Anpara in Uttar Pradesh registered 355, placing both cities in the “very poor” category.
Faridabad and Panchgaon in Haryana and Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan recorded an AQI of 350. Kaithal in Haryana recorded an AQI of 347, while Gurugram registered 345. New Delhi registered an AQI of 344, making the national capital 10th on the list.
The data showed that nine of the 12 cities listed recorded AQI levels of 350 or higher, indicating a significant deterioration in air quality in parts of northern India.
The concentration of highly polluted cities in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi highlights the growing air quality problem in northern India. According to the official, several cities in northern India have reported a spike in air pollution Diwali, with deteriorating air quality due to increased emissions from firecrackers and other sources of pollution. The rise in pollution levels has renewed concerns about air quality in the region and the need for stricter enforcement of pollution control measures.
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Meanwhile, Delhi recorded one of its most polluted Diwalis, with an average AQI of 376 on November 8.
On Monday, several locations in Delhi recorded AQI levels above 350, indicating very poor to severe air quality. Areas with high pollution levels included Delhi Technical University (409), Narela (399), Chandni Chowk (394), Bawana (392), Burari crossing (390) and Lodhi Road (384).
According to the CPCB classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 decreases is considered “good”, meaning minimal impact on health. A value between 51 and 100 is classified as “satisfactory”, while an AQI of 101-200 falls into the “moderate” category. An AQI between 201 and 300 is categorized as “bad” and can cause breathing difficulties for people with prolonged exposure, especially those with respiratory problems. The “very bad” category includes AQI values between 301 and 400 and is associated with respiratory disease with long-term exposure, even in healthy people. The highest category, “severe”, refers to AQI levels between 401 and 500. Even healthy people can experience these levels of pollution respiratory effects, while those with existing health conditions may face more severe effects.
Phase 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), an emergency framework designed to prevent deterioration of air quality once pollution exceeds certain thresholds, is currently active in Delhi-NCR, along with special rules to control vehicles and dust, which came into effect on November 1.
GRAP Stage 3, imposed on November 6, bans petrol BS-III and BS-IV diesel (or older) four-wheelers from plying in Delhi and the NCR districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Dust generating construction and demolition (C&D) activities are prohibited in NCR. Additionally, Delhi-registered BS-IV (and older) commercial medium-duty diesel vehicles are banned from plying, while similar vehicles registered outside the capital face total entry ban.
