The air quality in Gurgaon continued its alarming decline on Friday, inching perilously close to the 'very poor' category. The city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 298, a slight but concerning increase from 293 the day before.
Pollution Hotspots and Hazardous Particulate Levels
Among the city's monitoring stations, Gwalpahari emerged as the most polluted area with an AQI of 314, firmly placing it in the 'very poor' bracket. It was followed by Sector 51, which recorded an AQI of 292, and Vikas Sadan at 291. Data for Teri Gram could not be calculated due to insufficient information.
The real danger, however, lies in the concentration of toxic particulate matter. PM2.5 levels crossed hazardous thresholds across Gurgaon. Sector 51 witnessed the most severe concentration at 500 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³). This staggering figure is more than 33 times the World Health Organisation's safe limit of 15 µg/m³.
Other areas fared poorly as well. Gwalpahari recorded a PM2.5 level of 393 µg/m³, while Vikas Sadan reported 304 µg/m³. The larger PM10 particles also breached safe limits. In Sector 51, PM10 soared to 495 µg/m³, nearly 11 times the WHO guideline of 45 µg/m³. Gwalpahari registered 411 µg/m³ and Vikas Sadan 150 µg/m³.
Forecast Predicts No Respite
Unfortunately, residents should brace for continued poor air. The forecast from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) suggests that the accumulated pollution is unlikely to disperse in the coming days. The agency indicated that air quality might slip into the 'very poor' category over the next six days.
Meteorological conditions are not favourable for cleansing the air. Skies are expected to remain partly cloudy with shallow fog in the mornings. While surface winds from the northwest may reach speeds of up to 15 kmph in the morning, they are anticipated to weaken later, falling below 10 kmph during the evening and night. A ventilation index below 6,000 m²/s, combined with these low wind speeds, creates unfavourable conditions for pollutant dispersion, SAFAR noted.
Regional Context and Safety Standards
The pollution crisis is not confined to Gurgaon. Neighbouring Delhi also grappled with 'very poor' air, recording an AQI of 327 at 4 pm on Friday, up from 304 on Thursday. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the AQI is likely to remain in the 'very poor' category until at least Monday, despite predictions of stronger winds over the weekend.
The data reveals a uniform exceedance of safety standards. Even the more lenient annual safe limits set by India's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)—60 µg/m³ for PM2.5 and 100 µg/m³ for PM10—were surpassed at almost all monitoring stations in Gurgaon. This persistent and severe pollution poses significant public health risks, urging immediate attention from authorities and heightened precautions by citizens.
