Air pollution in North India uncontrolled, Haryana's Bahadurgarh leads with 400 AQI

According to the official Sameer app bulletin of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Haryana's Bahadurgarh city was recorded as the most polluted in the twenty-four-hour average Air Quality Index released at 4 PM on Monday. Bahadurgarh's AQI reached 400, which falls into the 'very poor' category. A massive deterioration in air quality has been observed across five states in North India.

Haryana's Charkhi Dadri ranked second on this list, where an AQI of 389 was recorded. Additionally, an AQI of 380 was recorded in Khora, Uttar Pradesh, 378 in Rohtak, and 362 in Khairthal, Rajasthan. An AQI of 355 was recorded in Anpara, Uttar Pradesh, causing both these cities to be included in the 'very poor' category. An AQI of 350 was recorded in Faridabad and Panchgaon in Haryana, as well as in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan.

Moving further down the list, an AQI of 347 was recorded in Kaithal and 345 in Gurugram, Haryana. In the national capital, New Delhi, an AQI of 344 was recorded, placing Delhi tenth on the list.

The concentration of highly polluted cities in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Delhi highlights the growing air quality problem in North India. According to an official, a major spike in air pollution has been observed in many North Indian cities after Diwali. Air quality has deteriorated due to emissions from firecrackers and other sources of pollution. Apart from this, vehicular smoke, stubble burning, and adverse weather conditions that prevent the dispersion of pollutants are also responsible for this.

Due to this increase in pollution levels, concerns have been raised again about the weather conditions of the entire region and the need for stricter implementation of pollution control measures. On the other hand, Diwali was the most polluted in Delhi, with the average AQI reaching 376 on November 8. On Monday, an AQI above 350 was recorded in several areas of Delhi, including 409 at Delhi Technological University, 399 in Narela, 394 in Chandni Chowk, 392 in Bawana, 390 in Burari Crossing, and 384 at Lodhi Road.

According to CPCB classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', indicating minimal health impact. 51 to 100 is 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 is 'moderate', 201 to 300 is 'poor', and 301 to 400 falls into the 'very poor' category. Prolonged exposure to 'very poor' air can cause respiratory illnesses even in healthy people. An AQI from 401 to 500 falls into the 'severe' category, where even healthy people may face respiratory problems.

The third phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is currently active to curb pollution in Delhi-NCR. Under this emergency framework, BS-3 petrol and BS-4 or older diesel four-wheelers have been banned in specified districts of Delhi and NCR. Along with this, construction and demolition activities that generate dust are also banned, and restrictions have been imposed on certain commercial diesel goods vehicles.