Gurgaon: Smog continued to choke the city in the morning as air quality stayed in the ‘poor' category for the third consecutive day on Sunday, with no signs of improvement. The air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 260, up from the previous day's 252.
At 285, Gwalpahari recorded the highest air quality, followed by Vikas Sadan at 236 and Teri Gram at 208. On Sunday, smog or shallow fog is likely during morning hours and mist is expected at night. The air quality will remain in the "very poor" category for the next six days.
As a result of the persistent pollution, city residents, especially the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are experiencing respiratory issues, eye irritation, and other health problems.
"Urgent action is required to prevent severe smog episodes in the coming days. We need to reduce traffic volume, eliminate waste burning and dirty industrial fuels, and implement stringent dust control measures, especially in the construction sector," said Shubhansh Tiwari, research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
On Sunday, both PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations substantially exceeded permissible limits owing to local pollutants, including vehicular emissions and dust. The air monitoring station at Gwal Pahari recorded the highest PM2.5 level at 312 µg/m³, followed by Vikas Sadan (307 µg/m³) and Teri Gram (278 µg/m³), according to CPCB data. PM10 levels peaked at Gwal Pahari (309 µg/m³), followed by Teri Gram (301 µg/m³). Vikas Sadan station failed to record PM10 levels.
Meanwhile, doctors said they were witnessing many more cases of respiratory issues in the recent days. "Every winter, the national capital and its surrounding areas are blanketed in toxic smog which is made worse by bursting firecrackers during festivities. Post-harvest stubble burning ahead of winter sowing aggravates the situation. These factors cause a surge in respiratory illnesses, and people also experience burning eyes, heart ailments, sore throats, skin allergies, among other health problems," said Dr Kuldeep Kumar Grover, head of critical care and pulmonology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon.