Panchkula Records Worst Air Quality in India, Pollution Levels Hit Hazardous Mark
Moisture from Cyclone Montha and temperature inversion blamed for Haryana’s worsening air, relief likely from November 1, says IMD
Panchkula, Oct 30 — Panchkula’s air quality turned the worst in the country on Wednesday, with its Air Quality Index (AQI) surging to 334, according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The figure places the city in the “very poor” category, ahead of Delhi (AQI 279) and Chandigarh (AQI 219).
The CPCB’s daily AQI bulletin, compiled using average readings from city monitoring stations at 4 pm, revealed that Panchkula’s pollution levels were the highest nationwide. In comparison, Charkhi Dadri in Haryana ranked second with an AQI of 323 underscoring the deteriorating air conditions across the state.
Explaining the spike, Surender Paul, regional director of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said the combined impact of Cyclone Montha over the Bay of Bengal and another system over the Arabian Sea was drawing moisture into northern India.
“Though these systems are too distant to cause rainfall here, the increased moisture has led to temperature inversion a condition that traps pollutants near the surface causing AQI levels to rise sharply,” Paul said.
He added that the effect was more pronounced in Haryana compared to Punjab and Chandigarh. When asked about the stark difference between Panchkula and Chandigarh’s readings, he attributed it partly to local temperature variations and the possibility of station-specific data anomalies.
At an AQI of 334, the air in Panchkula is considered “very poor”, posing a risk of respiratory issues upon prolonged exposure. Chandigarh’s AQI of 219, categorized as “poor”, can also cause discomfort to sensitive groups.
Saurabh Kumar, Director of Environment and Member Secretary of the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee, said, “A haze formed over the city in the morning, leading to a spike in AQI. The UT administration, along with the municipal corporation, is deploying water sprinklers and other measures to contain pollution.”
Relief from November 1
IMD officials expect conditions to improve by November 1 as cold northwesterly winds begin sweeping the region. “These dry and cool winds will help disperse pollutants and clear the air,” Paul said.
On Wednesday, Panchkula’s maximum temperature fell to 30.4°C from 31.4°C a day earlier, while the minimum remained steady at 16.6°C. Over the next three days, maximum temperatures are expected to hover around 31°C, with minimums near 19°C.
