Ballabhgarh tops pollution chart with AQI of 419, Delhi second at 403

Ballabhgarh in Haryana recorded the highest air pollution level among major cities in the Delhi-NCR region, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 419. Delhi followed closely with an AQI of 403 at 7:05 am on Friday, placing both in the severe category, according to the SAMEER app, the official mobile application developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Ghaziabad was the third most polluted city, recording an AQI of 379, followed by Noida at 368 and Khora in Uttar Pradesh at 358. Greater Noida registered an AQI of 356, while Gurugram and Manesar recorded readings of 351 and 350, respectively.

Panchgaon in Haryana recorded an AQI of 346, while Bahadurgarh reported the lowest reading among the 10 cities, at 323.

The readings indicate that air pollution remained very poor to severe across several parts of the National Capital Region, with all 10 cities recording AQI levels above 300.

Severe readings

Under India's AQI classification, readings between 301 and 400 fall in the ‘very poor’ category, while levels above 400 are classified as ‘severe’. Thus, Ballabhgarh and Delhi were in the severe category, while the remaining eight cities recorded very poor air quality.

Several air quality monitoring stations across Delhi also recorded AQI levels above 400 at 7:05 am on Friday, indicating severe air quality.

The areas with high pollution levels included Anand Vihar (419), Ashok Vihar (404), Aya Nagar (433), Badarpur (403), Bawana (413), Burari Crossing (456), Chandni Chowk (479), Chhawla (425), Commonwealth Sports Complex (451), CRRI Mathura Road (457), Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range (404), DTU Delhi (443), IGI Airport (403), IIT Delhi (488), ITO Delhi (451), Jahangirpuri (430), JNU (451), Mundka (435), Nehru Nagar (414), NIH Narela (445), North Campus, Delhi University (478), NSUT Jaffarpur (459), Punjabi Bagh (456), Pusa (469), Rohini (413), Sirifort (418), Sonia Vihar (409), Talkatora Garden (436), Tikri Kalan (402), Vasundhara Enclave (431), Vivek Vihar (424) and Wazirpur (427).

The concentration of highly polluted cities across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi highlights the growing air quality challenge in northern India. The rise in pollution levels has renewed concerns over the region’s air quality and the need for stricter enforcement of pollution-control measures.

Understanding AQI

According to the CPCB classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 falls under the ‘good’ category, indicating minimal health impact. A reading between 51 and 100 is classified as ‘satisfactory’, while an AQI of 101-200 falls under the ‘moderate’ category.

An AQI between 201 and 300 is categorised as ‘poor’, which may cause breathing discomfort to people with prolonged exposure, particularly those with respiratory conditions. The next category, ‘very poor’, covers readings between 301 and 400 and is associated with respiratory illness on prolonged exposure, even among healthy people.

The highest category, 'severe’, applies to AQI levels between 401 and 500. At these pollution levels, even healthy people may experience respiratory effects, while those with existing health conditions may face more serious impacts.

GRAP restrictions

Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is currently in force across Delhi-NCR, with additional vehicle restrictions and dust-control measures implemented from 1 November 2026. GRAP is a set of emergency measures aimed at preventing further deterioration in air quality. Restrictions are imposed in phases based on specified pollution levels and prevailing air quality.

Under Stage 3, the movement of light motor vehicles (LMVs), including four-wheelers, conforming to BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel emission standards or below has been prohibited in Delhi and the NCR districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.

The restrictions also include a ban on dust-generating construction and demolition (C&D) activities across the entire NCR. In addition, BS-IV and older Delhi-registered diesel medium goods vehicles are barred from operating, while similar medium and light goods vehicles registered outside Delhi are prohibited from entering the national capital.

About the Author

Vijay C. Roy is a journalist with over 21 years of experience covering various news beats across different organisations such as Business Standard and The Tribune. In the past, he has covered beats such as finance, auto, MSME, commodities, FMCG, pharmaceutical, agriculture, IT/ITES, infrastructure and start-ups. He joined Mint in February 2025, and covers agriculture, food processing, fertilizers, environment and climate change, bringing over two decades of experience reporting on farm policy, food inflation, crop trade, and rural livelihoods.<br><br>Vijay’s areas of reporting include food security and climate change policies, focusing on their impact on different stakeholders and their implications. His expertise lies in simplifying complex agri-economic issues such as edible oil import dependence, cotton and wheat trends, fertiliser subsidies, and climate-related risks. He has covered key developments including global supply disruptions and evolving trade policies, offering both macroeconomic perspective and field-level context. Known for his credible and balanced reporting, he follows a rigorous, fact-based approach that prioritises accuracy and context. He is driven by a commitment to public interest, aiming to make critical agricultural and economic issues accessible while contributing to informed policy and industry discussions.