Ghaziabad yet again tops the pollution chart. It had the highest air quality index reading on Monday standing at 384 that falls under very poor category. While, Noida stood second with an AQI of 347.
This condition occurred due to prevailing dust–raising winds, cloudy weather and mild pre-Monsoon showers. These activities are expected to continue for a couple of days more. Western Disturbance in the hills of North India was largely responsible for these weather activities. Another Western disturbance is expected around May 15.
Pollution levels would therefore continue to remain at similar levels as dust storm activity would continue over parts of Rajasthan in the coming days and dust carrying winds will affect Delhi-NCR, south Haryana, parts of Uttar Pradesh including Agra and Mathura.
During this period, the soaring day temperature might take a dip. Apart from Ghaziabad and Noida, other areas like Loni Dehat in Ghaziabad recorded an AQI of 371, while Greater Noida recorded an AQI of 289.
It is not happening for the first time with Ghaziabad that the pollution levels have gone up. Ghaziabad’s AQI on May 9 had shot up to 401 under the ‘severe’ category, which reduced to 331 on May 11 and again rose to 382 on May 12. Earlier as well, in October 2018, AQI of Ghaziabad stood at 451. It was then also the most polluted city in the country.
An air quality index or AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 and 500 “severe.”
Image Credit: DNA India
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