Prayagraj occupied the top position with an AQI of 325, while Gurugram was followed by Asansol at 275 and Varanasi at 255. Delhi and Noida both recorded readings close to 250, meaning Gurugram experienced worse air quality than the national capital during the morning assessment.
The city’s monitoring stations also reflected elevated concentrations of harmful pollutants. At Vikas Sadan, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board recorded PM2.5 levels of 105.9 micrograms per cubic metre at 7:30 am. This corresponded to an AQI of approximately 252, falling in the poor category. A visible layer of smoke and haze covered parts of Gurugram, with the temperature around 22 degrees Celsius.
Pollution levels had been high even before Monday’s morning spike. The CPCB’s bulletin for Sunday showed Gurugram’s AQI at 288, based on the 24-hour average recorded until 4 pm. PM2.5 was the principal pollutant contributing to the reading.
Faridabad also struggled with unhealthy air, reporting an AQI of 291. Both PM2.5 and PM10 were identified as major contributors to its pollution levels.
The wider NCR region experienced similarly difficult conditions. Delhi’s AQI reached 376, Ghaziabad recorded 344 and Noida stood at 318. Ballabgarh, meanwhile, registered 398, making it one of the worst-affected locations in the region and bringing it close to the severe category.
The latest figures have renewed concerns about the health consequences of prolonged exposure to polluted air. According to CPCB guidelines, poor air quality can cause breathing discomfort, particularly among people exposed for extended periods. Those suffering from asthma and existing heart or lung diseases face greater health risks.
With post-Diwali emissions contributing to the pollution burden, residents across Gurugram and neighbouring NCR cities continue to face challenging air conditions.
