Delhi residents woke up to ‘severe’ air quality on Thursday morning (November 14), following a day when the national capital recorded the worst Air Quality Index (AQI) in the country. Dense smog blanketed the NCR, significantly reducing visibility. On Wednesday, the AQI hit the ‘severe’ category for the first time this season, with the central pollution authority attributing the worsening conditions to an “unprecedentedly dense” fog, calling it an “episodic event.”
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in Anand Vihar was 466 (‘severe plus’) at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Other areas like Aya Nagar, Ashok Vihar, and Wazirpur also recorded AQI levels above 400, falling under the ‘severe’ category.
Despite the alarming levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) chose not to implement Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes measures like halting in-person classes for primary schools and a blanket ban on construction activities.
Data from the CPCB revealed that the AQI worsened throughout the day on Wednesday, climbing from 418 at 4 p.m. to 436 (severe) by 6 p.m., and finally reaching 454 (severe plus) by 9 p.m. The 24-hour average AQI at 4 p.m. was 418, up from 334 the previous day.
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Stage 4 of GRAP is triggered when the 24-hour average AQI exceeds the ‘severe plus’ threshold. At present, Stage 2 of GRAP, which was implemented on October 22, is still in effect. Stage 3, usually invoked on ‘severe’ air quality days, includes a ban on construction, suspension of in-person classes up to Class 5, and increased reliance on public transport.
The CAQM stated that with stronger winds expected, the pollutant concentration should begin to decline from Thursday onward, with the AQI likely returning to the “very poor” category. The sub-committee is closely monitoring the situation before deciding on further steps.
On Wednesday, Delhi experienced its first dense fog and the lowest daytime temperature of the season, which trapped pollutants in the air. The maximum temperature dropped from 32.8°C on Tuesday to 27.8°C on Wednesday.
In comparison, Bihar’s Hajipur recorded the second-worst AQI in the country, at 417. Out of the 36 monitoring stations in Delhi, 30 registered ‘severe’ air quality.
The AQI scale categorizes air quality as follows: 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), 401-450 (severe), and above 450 (severe plus).
If the ‘severe’ air quality persists on Thursday, authorities may impose additional restrictions under Stage 3 of GRAP, including halting construction, banning BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles, and further measures to curb pollution.