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Noida Air Turns Toxic: AQI Hits Severe Levels
19 Jan
Summary
- Noida and Ghaziabad recorded their first severe air days of the year.
- Ghaziabad logged the country's worst air quality on Sunday.
- Calm winds and dense fog led to the sharp deterioration in air quality.
Noida and its neighboring cities experienced a dramatic drop in air quality on Sunday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) entering the 'severe' category. This marks the first 'severe' air day of the year for both Noida and Ghaziabad, which recorded the country's worst air quality on this day. Visibility was significantly reduced, dropping to as low as 100 meters in some areas.
The air quality deterioration was largely attributed to calm winds associated with a western disturbance, coupled with dense fog. This environmental combination led to pollutants becoming trapped, causing AQI levels to spike. The transport sector in Delhi was identified as a major contributor to the air pollution, alongside emissions from surrounding regions.
Projections suggest a slight improvement in air quality, expecting it to return to the 'very poor' range on Monday and persist through Tuesday. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) responded by implementing Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Saturday due to the escalating pollution levels.
