Delhi’s air quality continued to remain in the ‘severe’ category for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 414 at 9 a.m., according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The national capital has been under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) since Tuesday, after air pollution levels crossed the 400-mark across multiple monitoring stations.
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), invoked across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), includes a series of emergency measures to curb deteriorating air quality. Stage III restrictions involve a ban on construction and demolition activities, and a prohibition on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar.
Among the city’s monitoring stations, Wazirpur recorded the highest AQI of 459, falling in the ‘severe’ range, while NSIT Dwarka recorded an AQI of 215, categorised as ‘poor’.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed state governments to implement additional restrictions under GRAP Stage III. These curbs will remain in force along with the existing measures from Stages I and II. The CAQM has also announced that schools up to grade 5 in Delhi-NCR will shift to hybrid mode until further notice.
According to the CPCB, air quality at a ‘severe’ level can affect even healthy individuals and poses serious health risks for people with existing respiratory or cardiac conditions. Authorities, however, expect the air quality to improve to the ‘very poor’ category in the coming days, depending on wind speed and weather conditions.
For reference, the CPCB classifies AQI readings as follows:
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0–50: Good
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51–100: Satisfactory
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101–200: Moderate
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201–300: Poor
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301–400: Very Poor
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401–500: Severe
