Residents of the National Capital Region (NCR) woke up to hazardous air conditions on Saturday as dense morning fog drastically reduced visibility and worsened pollution levels across key urban centers. The air quality in Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad slipped into the 'very poor' category, marking a significant deterioration from previous days.
Sharp Decline in Air Quality Index
Noida's air quality index (AQI) rose sharply to 324 on Saturday, up from 257 recorded on Friday. This alarming increase pushed the city firmly into the 'very poor' air quality range, raising health concerns for millions of residents. Despite experiencing excess rainfall this January, the city has recorded substantially higher pollution levels compared to the same period last year.
Comparative Analysis Reveals Troubling Trend
So far this month, Noida has logged 15 days with 'very poor' air quality, 12 'poor' days, two 'severe' days, and only two 'moderate' days. This represents a dramatic shift from January last year, which saw 15 'moderate' days, two 'good' air days, and no 'severe' AQI days. The city had recorded just two 'very poor' days and 12 'poor' days during the same period in 2023.
Greater Noida Records Worst Air Quality
Greater Noida emerged as the most polluted among the three cities, experiencing a sharp deterioration in air quality. The AQI jumped to 328 from 248 a day earlier, firmly placing it in the 'very poor' category. This month, Greater Noida has recorded 15 'very poor' days, 12 'poor' days, one 'severe' day, and two 'moderate' days. In stark contrast, January last year saw only one 'very poor' day, with 18 days remaining in the 'moderate' category.
Ghaziabad Also Suffers Significant Deterioration
Ghaziabad's air quality followed the troubling trend, with AQI standing at 313 on Saturday, up from 303 the previous day. The city has already experienced 16 'very poor' days and two 'severe' days this month, with just one 'moderate' day recorded. By comparison, January last year recorded four 'very poor' days, 11 'poor' days, and several 'moderate' days, along with two 'good' air days.
Localized Pollution Hotspots Identified
Station-wise data revealed severe localized pollution across the region. In Noida, Sector 125 recorded an alarming AQI of 380, Sector 116 logged 357, and Sector 1 stood at 343, all firmly in the 'very poor' category. Sector 62 showed relatively lower pollution at 216, though still classified as 'poor'.
Greater Noida's Knowledge Park V recorded 349, while Knowledge Park III logged 306. In Ghaziabad, Loni recorded 351, while Vasundhara and Sanjay Nagar registered 253 and 236, respectively. Data for Indirapuram remained unavailable at the time of reporting.
Delhi Also Experiences Worsening Conditions
The air quality deterioration extended to the national capital, with Delhi's AQI slipping to 315 from 253 recorded on Friday. This synchronized decline across the NCR highlights the regional nature of the pollution crisis affecting millions of residents.
Weather Conditions Contribute to Pollution Trapping
The deterioration in air quality coincided with a noticeable drop in minimum temperatures across the NCR. Saturday's maximum temperature reached 18°C, while the minimum settled at 10°C. According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, weak winds from the southeast, peaking at 10 kmph during the afternoon and dropping below 8 kmph by evening, combined with low temperatures to trap pollutants close to the surface.
Meteorological Forecast Offers Limited Relief
The India Meteorological Department has forecast light rain on Sunday, with brief spells accompanied by thunderstorms expected during the early morning to forenoon period, followed by another light spell later in the day. However, shallow to moderate fog is also anticipated during morning hours, which may continue to affect air quality and visibility.
This persistent pollution crisis in the NCR underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address air quality concerns, particularly during winter months when meteorological conditions frequently trap pollutants near the ground level.
