Delhi and its neighboring regions continued to suffer from a thick layer of smog on Thursday, with the air quality remaining in the ‘poor’ category and visibility reduced across various areas. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 379 at 8 a.m., placing it in the ‘very poor’ category.
Several locations in Delhi and NCR recorded even worse air quality. Areas such as Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Dwarka Sector-8, Mundka, and Wazirpur saw AQI levels above 400, with Wazirpur reaching 436, categorizing these areas in the ‘severe’ category. Other parts of the city, including Chandni Chowk (338), IGI Airport (370), and Patparganj (381), reported AQI readings in the ‘very poor’ range.
The deteriorating air quality caused disruptions to transportation. Some flights experienced delays, according to FlightRadar24, while multiple trains were reported late or rescheduled.
In response to the worsening air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This included measures such as a ban on truck entry into the city and the suspension of public construction activities. The Delhi government also announced that government offices, including those under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, would operate with only 50 percent of staff, while the remaining employees would work from home.
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Further restrictions under the revised GRAP guidelines included mandatory closures of physical classes up to Class V in NCR states under Stage-III, and up to Class XII under Stage-IV. A “mask advisory” was also issued, urging citizens to wear masks when stepping outside during hazardous air quality periods.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted moderate to dense fog over Delhi-NCR in the coming days, which could worsen the pollution situation. On Wednesday, Delhi Police had already instructed social media and e-commerce platforms to halt the sale and delivery of firecrackers within the National Capital Territory (NCT), as part of efforts to control air pollution levels.
In another worrying development, toxic foam was seen floating on the Yamuna River near Kalindi Kunj and Okhla Barrage. Meanwhile, Agra, which also recorded ‘moderate’ air quality, experienced fog covering the Taj Mahal.
For reference, an AQI between 200 and 300 is considered ‘poor’, while readings from 301 to 400 are categorized as ‘very poor’. Anything above 400 is deemed ‘severe’, and AQI values over 450 are classified as ‘severe plus’.
