Gurgaon’s air quality worsened sharply as low wind speed, dense fog and falling temperatures trapped pollutants near the ground, pushing the AQI into the ‘very poor’ category.

The city has leapt through Swachh Sarvekshan rankings. But there’s a paradox in the numbers.

The city has leapt through Swachh Sarvekshan rankings. But there’s a paradox in the numbers.

Considered about one-thirtieth the width of a human hair, PM2.5 consists of dust, black carbon, heavy metals, sulphates, nitrates and smoke, particles capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and bloodstream.

Considered about one-thirtieth the width of a human hair, PM2.5 consists of dust, black carbon, heavy metals, sulphates, nitrates and smoke, particles capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and bloodstream.

The report reveals serious negligence by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). Out of 37 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) set up across the state, 35 remained non-functional for several months.

An official report reveals that all air quality monitoring stations in Haryana, including those in Gurgaon, have been non-functional for months, raising serious concerns about data reliability and pollution management.

The air quality station in Sector 51 stopped functioning in April, the one run by TERI stopped in March, and the Vikas Sadan station has been offline since January.

Gurgaon experienced ‘severe’ air quality for the first time this season, with an AQI of 469, primarily due to stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and unfavourable weather conditions.

Due to 'Severe+' air quality in Gurugram, the city administration is mandating a 50% work-from-home policy for private institutions and corporate offices.

The Delhi government has been pushing for artificial rain using cloud-seeding - the method of triggering rain by seeding clouds with salts - to fight the pollution, but the plan is yet to take off.

Gurugram, Haryana, currently reports a better Air Quality Index (AQI) compared to Delhi, with PM2.5 and PM10 levels 45 per cent lower, and an overall AQI 40% better. However, experts question if the air in Gurugram is genuinely cleaner than Delhi.