Delhi’s air quality worsens to ‘severe’; GRAP-4 curbs imposed

New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality worsened to the ‘severe’ category on Tuesday, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 421. The AQI breached the 400 mark late Monday night, signaling a rapid decline due to calm wind conditions.

The government has enforced Stage 4 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the strictest measures to tackle air pollution. This includes a complete ban on construction activities and restrictions on the entry of non-essential polluting trucks into the city.

Most monitoring stations in Delhi recorded AQI levels above 400, indicating ‘very poor’ air quality. The highest AQI levels were observed at Jahangirpuri (468), Anand Vihar (467), and Rohini (464).

Also Read=GRAP-3 returns to Delhi amid worsening air quality

GRAP implements restrictions in four stages based on air quality levels:
Stage 1: AQI 201-300 (‘poor’)
Stage 2: AQI 301-400 (‘very poor’)
Stage 3: AQI 401-450 (‘severe’)
Stage 4: AQI above 450 (‘severe plus’)
Under the current Stage 4 curbs, schools for classes VI to IX and XI must shift to hybrid mode (physical and online). Classes for students up to grade V were already moved to hybrid mode under Stage 3.
The decision to escalate to Stage 4 restrictions came hours after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had imposed Stage 3 measures. These steps aim to minimize pollution and safeguard public health during the winter season.

Delhi residents are advised to limit outdoor activities, use public transport where possible, and take necessary precautions to combat the impact of poor air quality.