Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) slipping into the severe category at 483 in the morning, as several parts of the national capital recorded pollution levels above 400, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The reading marks a significant deterioration from the previous morning, when Delhi’s overall AQI stood at 364, placing it in the very poor category. A thick blanket of smog covered the capital as the city headed into the Diwali celebrations.
Several areas cross 400
According to CPCB data, Punjabi Bagh recorded an AQI of 449, followed by RK Puram at 448 and Bawana at 446. IIT Delhi and Rohini recorded 445 each, while Chandni Chowk stood at 420, Patparganj at 421 and Alipur at 413. All these areas fell under the severe category.
Under CPCB classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 satisfactory, 101 to 200 moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor, and 401 to 500 severe.
GRAP Stage III curbs in force
The pollution spike comes after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR amid concerns over further deterioration in pollution levels. The emergency action plan applies across Delhi and adjoining districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Stage III is invoked when the AQI reaches the 401 to 450 range and includes stricter vehicle restrictions, a halt to construction activities and hybrid learning arrangements for primary school students. GRAP is a four-stage emergency framework managed by the CAQM in coordination with the CPCB and regional state governments.
The Supreme Court has already flagged vehicular pollution as a major cause of Delhi’s worsening air, while rain brought brief relief to the capital’s air quality only days earlier. With weaker winds trapping pollutants over the city, the severe air poses serious health risks, especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.
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