On Monday, October 27, 2025, air quality across several parts of Haryana plummeted into the ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ categories, raising significant environmental concerns. In stark contrast, neighboring Punjab reported a ‘moderate’ Air Quality Index (AQI), according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Haryana witnessed particularly alarming levels, with Bahadurgarh recording an AQI of 387 by 4 p.m., placing it firmly in the ‘very poor’ category. Other cities experiencing severely compromised air quality included Dharuhera (334), Manesar (330), Fatehabad (323), Ballabhgarh (319), and Ambala (308), all registering ‘very poor’ AQI levels.
Furthermore, several other Haryana regions also reported ‘poor’ air quality. These included Charkhi Dadri (274), Jind (300), Bhiwani (293), Karnal (225), Panchkula (226), Kurukshetra (229), Panipat (230), and Yamunanagar (253).
Meanwhile, Punjab presented a more favorable picture. Major cities like Jalandhar (193), Ludhiana (196), Amritsar (157), Patiala (140), Bathinda (148), Mandi Gobindgarh (137), and Rupnagar (116) all showed ‘moderate’ AQI readings. Chandigarh, the shared capital of both states, also recorded a ‘moderate’ AQI of 136.
To understand these figures, the CPCB classifies AQI levels as follows: ‘good’ (0-50), ‘satisfactory’ (51-100), ‘moderate’ (101-200), ‘poor’ (201-300), ‘very poor’ (301-400), ‘severe’ (401-450), and ‘severe plus’ (above 450).