On Sunday, Bahadurgarh, a town in Haryana near Delhi, recorded the highest Air Quality Index (AQI) in India, peaking at 439, which falls into the ‘severe’ category. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) released at 4 PM indicated that only two other towns, Ghaziabad and Greater Noida, also categorized as ‘severe’, had lower AQI readings of 419 each. In comparison, Delhi’s air quality was rated ‘very poor’ at an AQI of 386. Notably, Bahadurgarh has been marked as ‘severe’ multiple times this month, with AQI levels of 466, 421, and 436 recorded on November 13, 11, and 9, respectively.
Despite being nearly a month past Diwali, cities across Haryana are still struggling with poor air quality. In response to the ongoing pollution problems, the Rohtak district administration has allowed online classes for students up to class 5. This comes as the Jind district police suspended ten officers for reportedly being unable to manage stubble burning incidents in the area.
In the latest CPCB report, towns like Sonipat (370), Gurgaon (305), Fatehabad (336), Bhiwani (325), and Dharuhera (302) fell into the ‘very poor’ category. Other areas categorized as having ‘poor’ air quality include Ambala (294), Ballabhgarh (219), Charkhi Dadri (282), Faridabad (257), Jind (273), Dharuhera (261), Kurukshetra (207), Manesar (260), Narnaul (249), Rohtak (246), and Yamunanagar (244). Chandigarh, the state capital, reported a more acceptable AQI of 104, while areas such as Hisar (166), Kaithal (138), Karnal (170), Panchkula (144), and Sirsa (104) were also classified within a ‘poor’ range. Palwal, however, achieved a ‘satisfactory’ AQI with a reading of 82.
In a related development, the deputy commissioner of Rohtak has ordered hybrid classes for primary school children, citing sustained ‘very poor’ AQI levels in the district. The directive emphasizes the health and safety of children, enabling schools to conduct classes in both physical and online formats as applicable. The state government has empowered local officials to make decisions regarding schooling based on air quality conditions.
The Jind district reported 15 cases of stubble burning on Sunday, leading all other districts in Haryana, which overall saw a total of 46 incidents, including eight in Rohtak. For context, 563 cases of stubble burning have emerged in Haryana this paddy season, a notable decrease from last year when 1,035 cases were recorded in the same timeframe. An official from the State Pollution Control Board noted the significant reduction and expressed commitment to entirely eliminate stubble burning instances.
The officer attributed ongoing air pollution to increased vehicle traffic, partially resulting from wedding celebrations, which contributes to both vehicular and dust pollution. Industrial emissions are also a factor. Currently, stagnant air conditions are exacerbating the issue. However, there is hopeful anticipation for improved air quality once air movement resumes.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/aqi-439-bahadurgarh-worst-air-country-10370019/
Category: Chandigarh,Cities
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Publish Date: 2025-11-17 10:17:00
