New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality deteriorated to the ‘severe plus’ category on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 484, the worst level recorded this season. In response, stricter pollution control measures, such as a ban on truck entry and halting construction at public projects, were implemented early in the day.
The heavy toxic smog significantly reduced visibility, with Safdarjung airport reporting visibility as low as 150 meters, officials said.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an AQI of 484 at 8 am, marking a sharp rise from 441 at 4 p.m. on Sunday and 457 by 7 p.m., driven by unfavorable weather conditions.
With the AQI exceeding 450, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR) enforced Stage-IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
As per the CAQM’s directive, trucks are barred from entering Delhi unless carrying essential items or running on clean fuels like LNG, CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electricity. Non-essential light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi are also prohibited, except for those running on CNG, electricity, or BS-VI diesel. Delhi-registered BS-IV or older diesel medium and heavy vehicles are banned unless engaged in essential services.
Additionally, all construction work related to public infrastructure, including roads, highways, flyovers, pipelines, and power lines, has been suspended. The CAQM has advised offices in NCR to operate at 50% capacity, allowing the rest of the workforce to work from home. Schools in Delhi have been instructed to switch to online classes, except for students in grades 10 and 12.
An AQI above 400 is considered ‘severe’ and poses risks to both healthy individuals and those with pre-existing health conditions. The GRAP, introduced in 2017, outlines a series of measures to combat air pollution based on its severity, categorising air quality into four stages: Stage 1 (‘poor,’ AQI 201-300), Stage 2 (‘very poor,’ AQI 301-400), Stage 3 (‘severe,’ AQI 401-450), and Stage 4 (‘severe plus,’ AQI above 450).
On Monday, Delhi’s minimum temperature was recorded at 16.2°C, nearly 4°C above the seasonal average, with a maximum temperature forecasted at 27°C, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Dense fog is also expected throughout the day, the weather office added.
