Ghaziabad Exits 'Red Zone' As Winds Lower AQI To 299; Crackdown On Loni Factories Continues

After enduring the "Red Zone" for 22 consecutive days, Ghaziabad has shifted to the "Orange Zone," thanks to strong winds on Saturday that provided some relief from the severe pollution. The district’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 299 on Saturday. However, authorities caution that while the AQI has lowered, the air quality remains hazardous to health.

Loni Remains a Hotspot Among the four monitoring stations in Ghaziabad, Loni continues to be the most polluted area. Although the AQI in Loni dropped to 363 on Saturday—down from a severe high of 436 just two days prior—the air quality poses a continued danger to residents. Loni had consistently recorded an AQI above 400 for the previous three days. Indirapuram ranked as the second most polluted area with an AQI of 313.

Administrative Action

Ankit Singh, the Regional Officer of the Pollution Control Board, confirmed that continuous action is being taken against factories in Loni. Following the issuance of notices, several illegal factories have been shut down, and the process of imposing fines is underway. Strict monitoring is in place to ensure compliance with the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) rules.

Also Read: Dehradun: Drowsiness And Night Travel Lead To Spike In Fatal Accidents; 9 Dead In 21 Days

Future Outlook

Pollution levels are expected to decrease further in the coming days as wind speeds increase.

Recorded AQI Levels (Saturday):

- Loni: 363

- Indirapuram: 313

- Ghaziabad (Overall): 299

- Vasundhara: 265

- Sanjay Nagar: 254

Also Read: Varanasi: Wanted Criminal Arrested After Gunfight; Pistol And Cartridges Seized