Gurgaon's Air Quality Crisis Deepens
Gurgaon's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category for the second consecutive day on Friday, with the city recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 320. This represents a three-point increase from Thursday's reading, indicating a persistent deterioration in air quality that has plagued the city throughout November.
Persistent Pollution Pattern Throughout November
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Gurgaon has struggled to break free from the 'poor' to 'very poor' air quality cycle this month. The past two weeks alone have seen multiple instances where AQI crossed the 300 mark, with particularly alarming readings of 378 on November 11, 350 on November 12, 305 on November 15, 302 on November 20, and 303 on November 25.
Even when temporary improvements occurred, the relief proved short-lived. The consecutive high readings demonstrate how stubbornly PM2.5 particles have been lingering over the city, despite occasional dips earlier in the week.
City-Wide Pollution Hotspots Identified
All four official monitoring stations in Gurgaon reported concerning levels on Friday, confirming the widespread nature of the pollution problem. NISE Gwal Pahari recorded the worst air quality at 360, followed closely by Teri Gram at 345 and Sector 51 at 302. Vikas Sadan showed relatively better conditions but still remained in the 'poor' category with a reading of 261.
Officials from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) attribute this pattern to winter conditions that trap pollutants close to the ground surface. Light winds have prevented effective dispersion of pollutants, causing the city's air quality numbers to climb back up rapidly even after brief clearer spells.
Local pollution hotspots continue to contribute significantly to the emissions, according to HSPCB officials. "We have already mapped the hotspots and shared the locations with MCG for immediate action," confirmed an official from the pollution control board.
Health Impacts and Weather Forecast
Health advisories have warned that prolonged exposure to air quality at these levels can significantly aggravate respiratory problems. Children, older adults, and people with pre-existing heart or lung conditions are particularly vulnerable during such pollution episodes.
Doctors across the city have reported noticeable increases in cases of cough, breathlessness, throat irritation, and fatigue among patients during these high pollution phases.
According to the Decision Support System (DSS) forecast, Friday is expected to bring clear skies with shallow fog and temperatures ranging between 25-27°C (maximum) and 10-12°C (minimum). Winds are predicted to remain light in the morning with slight strengthening from the northwest in the afternoon.
The forecast for November 30 indicates partly cloudy conditions with shallow morning fog, while temperatures maintain similar ranges of 24-26°C (maximum) and 10-12°C (minimum). December 1 may see shallow to moderate fog with maximum temperatures dropping to 23-25°C and minimum temperatures falling to 8-10°C.
The ventilation conditions remain concerning for pollutant dispersion. The maximum mixing depth is predicted to be 1,050m on November 29, 1,000m on November 30, and 1,100m on December 1. Ventilation index values during these days will range from 4,500 to 8,500 m²/s. Notably, a ventilation index below 6,000 m²/s combined with wind speeds under 10 kmph is considered unfavorable for dispersing pollutants effectively.
Air quality is expected to remain in the 'very poor' category from November 29 through December 1, according to current projections.
