Toxic Haze Blankets North India; Haryana Cities Top Pollution Chart

NEW DELHI – After Diwali celebrations filled the skies with firecrackers and festive smoke, the Commission for Air Quality Management on October 21 reported an alarming deterioration in air quality across northern India.

According to the latest Air Quality Index (AQI) bulletin, several cities in Haryana and the National Capital Region (NCR) have recorded “severe” and “very poor” air quality levels.

Jind topped the national chart with an AQI of 421, followed by Dharuhera (412), Narnaul (390), and Rohtak (376)—all falling in the “severe” category. Other highly polluted cities include Bahadurgarh (368), Sirsa (353), Charkhi Dadri (353), Gurugram (370), and the national capital Delhi (351), all in the “very poor” range. Data shows that particulate matter PM2.5 remains the dominant pollutant in all these regions, pushing air quality to hazardous levels.

Neighbouring cities like Ghaziabad (324), Noida (320), Manesar (320), and Hapur (314) also reported “very poor” air quality, signalling a blanket of toxic haze enveloping the NCR.

Health experts warn that exposure to such conditions can lead to respiratory illness, particularly among children, the elderly, and those with asthma or heart disease.

In contrast, southern cities such as Bengaluru (97), Chennai (142), and Hyderabad (116) recorded “satisfactory” to “moderate” air quality, while coastal and northeastern cities like Mysuru (41), Gangtok (34), and Shillong (17) enjoyed “good” conditions. (IANS)