Overview
- Dharuhera, Haryana recorded the highest PM2.5 at 123 µg/m³ and exceeded India’s daily standard on 77% of days.
- Delhi’s monthly PM2.5 averaged 107 µg/m³, nearly triple its September level of 36 µg/m³.
- Stubble burning contributed less than 6% to Delhi’s October PM2.5, underscoring limits of short seasonal measures like GRAP.
- Rohtak, Ghaziabad, Noida, Ballabgarh, Bhiwadi, Greater Noida, Hapur, and Gurgaon filled out the top‑polluted list concentrated in the NCR.
- Out of 249 cities, 212 were under India’s 60 µg/m³ NAAQS, yet only six met the WHO daily guideline of 15 µg/m³, and the count of “Good” cities fell from 179 in September to 68 in October.