For the second day in a row, Gurgaon's residents woke up to hazardous air on Saturday, with the city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 349, firmly in the 'very poor' category. While this marked a slight dip from Friday's reading of 373, pollution levels continued to pose a significant health risk, far exceeding safe limits and offering no real respite to the populace.
Monitoring Stations Paint a Grim Picture
The data from individual monitoring stations revealed an even more alarming scenario. Sector 51 reported the most dangerous conditions, with its AQI soaring into the 'severe' category at 403. Other areas fared only marginally better: Vikas Sadan recorded an AQI of 359, while Teri Gram and Gwalpahari reported levels of 345 and 335, respectively, all in the 'very poor' range.
The concentration of deadly particulate matter told a similar story. PM2.5 levels, which penetrate deep into the lungs, were dangerously high across the board. Sector 51 recorded 462 µg/m³, followed by Gwalpahari at 456 µg/m³, Teri Gram at 443 µg/m³, and Vikas Sadan at 412 µg/m³. These figures are a staggering multiple of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) safe guideline of 15 µg/m³. PM10 levels also breached safety limits at all locations.
Weather Conditions Trap Pollutants
Experts pinpointed a combination of meteorological factors and local emissions as the primary culprits for the persistent smog. Over the past week, falling temperatures and notably low wind speeds have crippled the natural dispersal mechanisms for pollutants.
Sachin Panwar, an independent air quality expert, explained the science behind the haze. "Low wind speed, reduced mixing height, and a strong thermal inversion are preventing effective dispersion of pollutants," he said. "The inversion layer, which intensified due to cold nights, is acting like a lid, trapping pollutants close to the ground instead of allowing them to disperse vertically."
This phenomenon was exacerbated by cold, moist air near the surface, which further restricted vertical movement and confined pollution to the lower atmospheric layers. While some horizontal air movement persisted, the weak vertical uplift meant pollutants simply accumulated over the city.
No Relief in Sight Soon
The forecast for the coming days offers little hope for improvement. Experts warn that while daytime temperatures may rise slightly due to surface heating, the cold nights will allow the oppressive inversion layer to persist.
"Unless wind speed increases significantly or a new weather system develops, air quality is likely to continue hovering between the 'poor' and 'very poor' categories in the coming days," cautioned Panwar. This prediction underscores a prolonged period of unhealthy air for Gurgaon's residents.
The readings from all monitoring stations also blatantly violated the Central Pollution Control Board's annual safety standards. The situation highlights the urgent need for sustained mitigation efforts targeting local emission sources, especially as winter conditions set in, creating a perfect storm for pollution buildup.
