The air quality across major cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) took a dangerous turn for the worse on Sunday, with all three key urban centers—Noida, Ghaziabad, and Greater Noida—plunging firmly into the 'severe' category. The situation was particularly grim in Greater Noida, which earned the dubious distinction of recording the worst air quality in the entire country.
NCR Cities Gasp Under Hazardous Air
According to the latest data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) continued its alarming upward trend. Noida's AQI worsened to 419 on Sunday, up from 409 the previous day. Its neighbor, Ghaziabad, also saw a rise, with the AQI reaching 414 from Saturday's 404. However, the most significant deterioration was witnessed in Greater Noida, where the air quality catapulted from the 'very poor' range (AQI 395) to a 'severe' 434.
Greater Noida's alarming AQI of 434 made it the most polluted city in India on Sunday, based on average data from the CPCB portal. The capital city, Delhi, was not spared either, with its overall air quality entering the 'severe' zone, touching 401 by Sunday night. Many areas within Delhi had reached these hazardous levels much earlier in the day.
Station-Wise Breakdown Reveals Local Hotspots
A closer look at the data from individual monitoring stations paints a detailed picture of the pollution crisis. In Noida, three out of four stations recorded 'severe' air. Sector 116 was the worst affected with an AQI of 438, followed by Sector 1 (AQI 432) and Sector 125 (AQI 414). Only Sector 62 fared slightly better, but still in the 'very poor' category with an AQI of 391.
The situation in Greater Noida was even more critical. Knowledge Park V recorded a staggering AQI of 462, while Knowledge Park III registered 407, both firmly in the 'severe' bracket. In Ghaziabad, Loni emerged as the pollution hotspot with an AQI of 445. Vasundhara (AQI 433) and Indirapuram (AQI 411) also suffered 'severe' air, while Sanjay Nagar (AQI 369) recorded 'very poor' quality.
Meteorological Factors Worsen the Crisis
Experts point to unfavorable weather conditions as a primary reason for the persistent toxic haze. Meteorological factors, particularly very low wind speeds, have trapped pollutants close to the ground for several days this month. Data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) indicates that surface winds were predominantly from the northwest at speeds below 15 kmph during the afternoon. The situation worsened in the evening, with wind speeds dropping to less than 5 kmph from the north.
The forecast offers little immediate relief. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for moderate to dense fog for Monday morning and a yellow alert for Tuesday. Dense to very dense fog is predicted during night and morning hours over Himachal Pradesh, Haryana-Chandigarh, and western Uttar Pradesh until December 31, and over eastern UP until January 1. Isolated parts of Punjab and Haryana may also experience a cold wave in the coming days.
For Monday, the IITM predicts surface winds from the west at speeds below 15 kmph throughout the day and night, which is unlikely to disperse the pollutants effectively. Morning visibility is expected to drop below 100 meters, posing additional risks for travel and health. The combination of stagnant air, fog, and continuing emissions has created a perfect storm for severe air pollution across the Delhi-NCR region, with authorities and citizens on high alert.
