AQI returns to 'severe' in Ggn after staying 'very poor' for three days

Gurugram: After three days of breathing 'very poor' quality air, residents of Gurugram suffered more as the air quality entered the 'severe' category on Monday.

So bad was the situation that in the morning, PM2.5 levels hovered between 500-550 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³). In the evening, the situation improved, but only slightly, as PM2.5 levels were recorded above 400 µg/m³.

The situation is no better indoors, as even people who can afford air purifiers claim that PM2.5 levels are still dangerously high. The safe limit of PM2.5 is 60, as prescribed by the World Health Organisation.

"PM2.5 levels indoors are at 230 µg/m³ after an hour of running the air purifier. If I close all my doors and windows, then it reaches to 190. But it is not possible to do so for a long time," said Prasanto K Roy, a Gurugram resident

Despite measures to rein in the situation, the Gurugram administration is struggling to implement its measures. Challenges are still abound for the public agencies, as lack of mechanised sweeping has resulted in brooms being used to sweep the streets, which has proved to be counterproductive.

There is also a lack of PUC centres in the city, with a large number of complaints of faulty centres operating in the city being by the regional transport authority.

Lack of an effective public transportation system has also resulted in major roads of Gurugram being packed to the rafters with traffic.

More than eight lakh vehicles ply daily in Gurugram. There is also a dearth of parking areas and grievances of illegal parking seem to never end.