Gurgaon ranks fifth in India for July PM2.5 levels

Gurgaon recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 76 micrograms per cubic metre in July, ranking fifth among India’s most polluted cities for the month.

The city appeared in the national daily top 10 on 18 days. Its air quality was classified as moderate for 12 days, poor for seven days and very poor for three days. It recorded nine satisfactory days and no good days.

An analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), using Central Pollution Control Board dashboard data, found that five Haryana cities made the national monthly top 10. Panipat ranked sixth with 75 µg/m³, followed by Sonipat at 68 µg/m³, Charkhi Dadri at 67 µg/m³ and Ballabgarh at 66 µg/m³. Khora, in Ghaziabad district, ranked fourth at 77 µg/m³.

“Persistent elevated PM2.5 levels during the monsoon also point to the role of underlying emissions, rather than weather alone,” CREA analyst Manoj Kumar said.

Delhi’s July average was 39 µg/m³. Faridabad recorded 54 µg/m³, while Ghaziabad recorded 37 µg/m³.