Residents of Noida woke up to bright sunshine on Saturday, but the clear skies did little to cleanse the toxic air. For the second consecutive day, the city's air quality index (AQI) remained firmly lodged in the 'very poor' category, offering little respite from the hazardous haze.
AQI Readings Across NCR Show Persistent Pollution
According to the latest data, Noida recorded an AQI of 348 on Saturday. This was marginally better than Friday's reading of 365, which was recorded after the city received some scattered rain. Its neighbour, Greater Noida, logged an AQI of 338, showing a slight improvement from 364 the previous day.
In Ghaziabad, however, the situation worsened slightly. The AQI was recorded at 351 on Saturday, compared to 347 on Friday. The national capital, Delhi, registered an AQI of 346. While dense fog that had reduced visibility to below 200 metres in the morning cleared as the day progressed, the dangerous pollutants showed remarkable persistence.
Station-Wise Breakdown Reveals Severe Spots
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) portal painted a detailed and concerning picture. All four air monitoring stations in Noida recorded 'very poor' air quality. Sector 1 was the worst at 363, followed closely by Sector 116 at 361. Sector 125 recorded 335, and Sector 62 registered 333.
In Greater Noida, both Knowledge Park V (AQI 353) and Knowledge Park III (AQI 322) reported 'very poor' air. The situation in parts of Ghaziabad was even more alarming. Vasundhara entered the 'severe' category with an AQI of 403. Loni (AQI 389) and Indirapuram (AQI 317) were 'very poor', while Sanjay Nagar (AQI 296) was in the 'poor' category.
Low Wind Speed and Local Dust Aggravate Crisis
Meteorological conditions played a key role in trapping pollutants. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology reported that winds on Saturday came from the northwest. Crucially, the wind speed was less than 16 kmph during the afternoon and dropped further to below 14 kmph in the evening and night. These calm conditions prevented the dispersal of airborne particles.
Adding to the problem was local dust. A re-inspection report by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) identified several dust hotspots on Noida's roads. Out of 23 inspected spots, three were marked with high-dust intensity. These included the Sector 22 service road below the Bhangel Elevated Road and the Brahmaputra Market in Sector 29.
Furthermore, nine locations, including areas near Fortis Hospital in Sector 62, Sectors 32, 122, 120, 51, and 63, had moderate dust levels. The remaining eleven spots were found to have low-dust intensity. This local contribution of particulate matter, combined with region-wide pollution and unfavourable weather, continues to challenge the National Capital Region's air quality, keeping public health at risk.
