New Delhi’s air quality remains in the “severe” category for the third straight day, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 409, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The heavy blanket of smog has reduced visibility across the city, disrupting traffic flow and leading to delays in flight schedules.
Of the 39 monitoring stations across Delhi, 21 reported severe AQI levels, with Jahangirpuri, Bawana, Wazirpur, and Rohini experiencing the highest pollution, reaching “severe plus” with AQIs of 458, 455, 455, and 452, respectively. This represents a slight improvement from Thursday, when the city’s AQI stood at 432, but air quality remains hazardous.
In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has enforced Stage 3 measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The Delhi government ordered online classes for students up to Grade V starting Friday to protect young children from exposure to the toxic air.
Stage 3 GRAP measures prohibit entry into Delhi of interstate buses from NCR states unless they are electric, CNG, or BS-VI diesel vehicles. Other anti-pollution actions include:
- A ban on construction and demolition activities
- Suspension of mining operations
- Regular water sprinkling on main roads to reduce dust
- Restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles within Delhi and neighboring districts like Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar.
The latest pollution surge has been attributed to multiple factors, including vehicular emissions, agricultural burning, and stagnant weather conditions marked by low wind speeds. The city has experienced “very poor” air quality for over two weeks, which escalated to “severe” earlier this week.