Delhi-NCR air pollution reached hazardous levels on Tuesday, with Ghaziabad recording an average Air Quality Index of 636 and several monitoring locations in Delhi, Noida and Greater Noida reporting readings above 400, according to a report by Jagran – New Delhi.
The deterioration was reported in the first week of November as Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram experienced dense smog and air quality in the severe range. The conditions were accompanied by reports of breathing difficulty, eye irritation and throat discomfort among residents.
At 8:02 am, Delhi’s temperature was recorded at 19 degrees Celsius, with light sunshine and hazy conditions. Westerly winds were reported to be moving at 11 kmph, while humidity stood at 77 per cent and visibility was recorded at 10 km. These conditions formed the immediate weather backdrop to the pollution episode described in the report.
Ghaziabad emerged as the worst-affected city in the National Capital Region, with its average AQI crossing 600. Jagran reported that Delhi’s monitoring stations were largely above 400, placing them in the severe category. In Noida and Greater Noida, the air was also described as hazardous, with the Knowledge Park V monitoring station recording an AQI of 486.
The reported readings show that the episode was not confined to Delhi’s municipal boundary. Pollution levels were elevated across the connected urban region, including Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Gurugram. This matters because residents regularly travel across these jurisdictions for work, education, healthcare and commerce, while the sources and movement of polluted air do not follow administrative boundaries.
The report said that Gurugram was also experiencing very poor air quality, with AQI readings above 400 in some areas. Smog was visible along busy traffic corridors in Delhi, including the area near ITO and Vikas Marg, where vehicles were reported to be moving through reduced-air-quality conditions.
Doctors and health experts cited in the report advised children, older people, and residents with asthma or heart disease to avoid outdoor exposure and use masks. The guidance comes as the affected cities continue to experience conditions in which prolonged exposure to polluted air can make routine outdoor activity more difficult for vulnerable groups.
The episode also highlights the operational challenge of managing air quality across the National Capital Region. While each city has its own municipal and administrative systems, residents experience the region as a connected urban area. The report said that the administration was monitoring the situation and taking necessary steps to control pollution, but it did not specify the individual measures being implemented.
The severe readings were reported ahead of Diwali, when pollution levels can become an additional concern for the region. A related report cited by Jagran had earlier recorded an AQI of 305 in parts of Noida, with several sectors above 300. The latest readings indicate a further deterioration at multiple locations.
The immediate public advisory remains focused on limiting outdoor exposure for vulnerable residents and using masks. Administrative monitoring and pollution-control measures will determine the next response as authorities track conditions across Delhi-NCR.
