Delhi chokes as AQI crosses 400, GRAP-III enforced.
Delhi woke up under a thick, grey haze on Tuesday as its air quality plunged into the ‘severe’ category for the first time this season. With pollution levels rising sharply overnight, authorities were forced to enforce Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) — a set of emergency measures aimed at curbing emissions and reducing toxic smog that has once again enveloped the national capital.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) jumped from 362 on Monday to 425 by 9 a.m. on Tuesday, marking a dangerous deterioration in air quality. The spike triggered immediate concern across Delhi and the neighbouring NCR region. As per the CPCB’s Sameer app, by 7 a.m., 34 of the city’s 39 active monitoring stations had already recorded ‘severe’ pollution levels, with some areas crossing alarming limits — Bawana registered an AQI of 462, Wazirpur 460, and both Mundka and Punjabi Bagh 452.
An AQI above 400 falls in the ‘severe’ bracket, meaning the air is hazardous to breathe and can affect even healthy individuals. For vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and people with respiratory or heart conditions, prolonged exposure can lead to serious health complications.
Under Stage III of GRAP, authorities have intensified restrictions to reduce emissions. Construction and demolition activities, except those considered essential — such as railways, metro projects, airports, defence-related work, sanitation, and healthcare infrastructure — have been halted. Even for exempted projects, strict dust control and waste management guidelines have been mandated to prevent further worsening of air quality.
The implementation of GRAP-III also includes steps like increasing mechanised road sweeping, intensifying water sprinkling to control dust, and encouraging the public to limit outdoor movement and vehicle use. Officials have urged residents to work from home wherever possible, use public transport, and avoid burning any kind of waste.
The blanket of smog over Delhi once again highlights the city’s recurring winter crisis, driven by a mix of local emissions, stubble burning, and stagnant weather conditions. For millions of residents, masks are back — not for a virus, but for the air they breathe.