Delhi Smothered by Worst Air Quality of the Season
Delhi woke up to its worst air quality of the season on Friday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) plunging into the “severe-plus” category. A dense layer of smog reduced visibility to 150 meters at Palam by 5 a.m., disrupting flight operations and train schedules across the region.
According to SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research), Delhi’s AQI reached 481 at 7 a.m., marking the season’s most hazardous air quality. Experts attributed the alarming conditions to unfavorable meteorological factors.
GRAP Stage 4 Restrictions Come Into Effect
In response to the escalating pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) from 8 a.m. This stage includes the following measures:
- Vehicle Restrictions: Trucks are banned from entering Delhi unless carrying essential items or running on clean fuels (CNG, LNG, or BS-VI diesel). Non-essential light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi are also barred, except for those using CNG or electric power.
- Construction Halt: All construction activities, including public projects like highways, roads, and flyovers, are suspended.
- School Closures: Physical classes have been suspended for all students except those in Classes 10 and 12.
- Workplace Adjustments: Public and private offices in Delhi-NCR are advised to operate at 50% capacity, with the rest working remotely. Central government offices have also been urged to adopt work-from-home measures.
Public Advisory and Future Measures
The CAQM has advised residents, particularly vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic health conditions, to stay indoors. State governments may also implement additional restrictions such as closing colleges, curbing non-essential activities, and introducing odd-even vehicle rules.
With air quality in Delhi spiraling into the “severe-plus” zone, authorities are scrambling to mitigate the crisis as the region battles toxic smog and hazardous air conditions.
