The air in NCR is turning toxic once more. Following days of improved conditions thanks to gusty winds, the Air Quality Index is deteriorating rapidly. Multiple spots in Greater Noida and Ghaziabad have surged past the red threshold, entering severe pollution levels that pose immediate threats to public health.
Knowledge Park-5 in Greater Noida tops the charts at 331 AQI—red and dangerous. Knowledge Park-3 sits at 202 (poor). In Ghaziabad, Loni’s 312 and Sanjay Nagar’s 301 scream crisis, while Indirapuram (273) and Vasundhara (271) remain very poor.
Noida’s pollution map is alarming: Sector-125 (278), Sector-1 (262), Sector-116 (269), all very poor, and Sector-62 (201, poor). Delhi reports Anand Vihar at 278, Ashok Vihar 263, Bawana 260, Burari Crossing 251, Chandni Chowk 239, Commonwealth Sports Complex 231, and CRRI Mathura Road 210. Better spots include Cantt at 177 and Aya Nagar at 197.
Meteorologists forecast rising mercury: 16-17°C lows and highs up to 34°C through March 12, with sunny conditions persisting. Reduced wind speeds exacerbate particle accumulation, driving AQI higher.
Residents are advised to limit outdoor exposure, wear N95 masks, and monitor vulnerable groups closely. This resurgence underscores NCR’s chronic air crisis amid urban growth and seasonal shifts.