Delhi Smog – Artifex.News

How is air pollution in Delhi-NCR ahead of winter?

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:13:00 +0000

The story so far: As the air quality of Delhi worsened to the ‘poor’ category in the national capital, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas (CAQM) on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) announced Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) to bring down the pollution.

Every winter, air pollution spikes in Delhi-NCR and many parts of the larger Indo-Gangetic Plains, mainly due to meteorological factors such as lower wind speeds and a drop in temperature. Also, pollution from stubble burning during October and November, and bursting of firecrackers during the festive season add to existing pollution from vehicles and dust, worsening the air quality.

What is GRAP?

The GRAP or Graded Response Action Plan, is a set of short-term emergency measures to reduce air pollution and is divided into four stages. The CAQM announces the different stages, depending on the level of pollution recorded or forecast for the near future.

Whenever the CAQM announces GRAP, it directs State governments to implement the restrictions with “immediate effect” in entire Delhi and also in the NCR districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The restrictions will come into effect on the ground when respective State governments pass orders to implement them.

As per law, the State governments are bound to implement directions of the CAQM and the Commission can initiate legal action against officers not following its directions.

The GRAP was first notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in January, 2017, pursuant to Supreme Court directions to provide for graded measures corresponding to different levels of air quality.

Initially, the GRAP was implemented by the EPCA (Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority), which was formed in 1998 by the Supreme Court and was responsible for the management and coordination on air pollution in Delhi and the NCR.

But the EPCA was not backed by a statute and experts had raised the issue that it lacked the teeth to act against authorities which did not follow its orders.

In 2021, the CAQM replaced the EPCA and since then it has been implementing the GRAP. Over the years, at times after coming under attack of the Supreme Court, the GRAP has gone through multiple revisions, making it more stringent.

What now?

Most of the actions under Stage 1 are directing authorities to strictly implement existing norms related to air pollution.

The four stages of GRAP are: Stage I – ‘Poor’ Air Quality (Delhi AQI ranging between 201-300), Stage II – ‘Very Poor’ Air Quality (Delhi AQI ranging between 301-400), Stage III – ‘Severe’ Air Quality (Delhi AQI ranging between 401-450), Stage IV – ‘Severe +’ Air Quality (Delhi AQI > 450).

A higher AQI indicates worsening of air quality.

Though the GRAP can be imposed any time during the year, the higher stages of GRAP are mostly invoked during winter as air quality deteriorates.

Under GRAP 1, the CAQM has directed Delhi and its neighbouring States to ensure that diesel generator sets are not used as a regular source of power supply, among other measures.

It’s under Stage III and Stage IV of the GRAP that more severe actions kick in.

For instance, under Stage III, the CAQM announces a ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR and a ban on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV or below emission standard diesel Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) or cars in Delhi and in the High Vehicle Density (HVD) districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budha Nagar.

Similarly, under Stage IV, the ban on construction becomes even more severe with fewer exemptions, and there is a ban on entry of trucks into Delhi, except for trucks that are BS-VI, electric, CNG, and LNG. Other measures are also taken.

Does GRAP actually help?

The GRAP aims to cut down the sources of pollution for a short time when the air pollution is very high, so that the air quality improves, but it is not a long-term strategy.

According to an analysis released on Thursday (October 22, 2026) by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a Finland-based non-profit research organisation, there has been “no consistent” improvement in Delhi’s winter air quality over the past four years, despite the imposition of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

“Delhi’s winter AQI (Air Quality Index) has fluctuated over the past four years, with no consistent improvement. The mean AQI rose from 280 in winter 2022–23 to 304 in 2023–24, fell to 285 in 2024–25 and increased again to 295 in 2025–26. The median AQI followed a similar pattern, rising from 294 to 324, falling to 289 and then increasing to 305,” CREA said in a statement.

Delhi’s winter air quality has not followed a consistent downward trend since the 2022 revision of GRAP, and the mean and median AQI for the latest winter were both higher than in 2022–23, said Manoj Kumar, an analyst at CREA.

What is different this winter?

In addition to GRAP, the Delhi government in June this year issued a gazette notification of a set of restrictions for winter months. But unlike GRAP, these restrictions will come into play irrespective of the air quality at a particular time.

For instance, as per the June 23 notification, from November 1 to January 31, there will be a ban on the plying of all non-Delhi-registered motor vehicles below BSVI emission standards in the national capital. However, electric, CNG, and emergency and sovereign duty vehicles are exempted from it.

Similarly, as per the notification, from November 1 to February 28, existing parking charges at authorised parking sites will be doubled to discourage use of private vehicles, except for parking spaces owned and managed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

But if there is any conflict between the GRAP orders and the June 23 notification by the Delhi government, the GRAP will take precedence.

With the additional restrictions imposed by the Delhi government, this winter is set to see one of the highest levels of government action in the recent past in Delhi, at least on paper.

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Delhi’s winter action plan hit as new road sweeping machines delayed until November-end

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:34:00 +0000

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that 70 large MRS machines
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO

Despite winter approaching and air pollution expected to worsen, the Delhi government has missed a crucial July deadline to deploy a new fleet of 140 Mechanical Road Sweepers (MRS) to curb dust. None of the new MRS machines have arrived, leaving the capital without key infrastructure as its annual pollution crisis looms, multiple officials told The Hindu.

In February, the Delhi government informed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) that 140 MRS machines would be deployed by the end of July to curb dust pollution. The fleet was to comprise 70 large machines for wider roads and 70 smaller variants for narrower lanes. The initiative is projected to cost the government approximately ₹900 crore over the next 10 years.

On Monday, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa told The Hindu that after tender process, work order has been issued for the 70 large MRS machines and at least some of them are expected to arrive by the end of November. “We will use the existing MRS machines and we are trying to make sure that at least some of the new large MRS machines will also be available during this winter,” Mr. Sirsa said.

An IIT-Kanpur study in 2016 found that road dust accounts for about 56% of Delhi’s annual PM10 emissions and 38% of its annual PM2.5 emissions.

While the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is executing the project, the Delhi government is funding it. The government is outsourcing the operations to private firms selected through a competitive bidding process rather than purchasing the fleet. The chosen vendors will supply both the machinery and the operational staff.

Meanwhile, the plan for the smaller machines was scaled down from 70 to 30 following a government analysis,officials said. However, the Delhi Cabinet approved the revised plan on September 29, delaying the tendering process and subsequent deployment.

Faced with these delays, the MCD proposed hiring 30 to 40 MRS machines on a temporary basis for three to four months this winter. The CAQM rejected this interim plan as it included an option to utilise diesel trucks, sources added.

Prolonged delays

The machines are part of a broader, missed-deadline initiative first announced on January 28, 2023 by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government as part of an ambitious plan for the “world-class transformation” of city roads.

Although work was scheduled to begin on the ground by April 1, 2023, the Delhi Cabinet did not pass the ₹2,388 crore proposal until April 4, 2023. The Cabinet split the original plan into two components, outsourcing the work to private firms for a period of seven to 10 years. The first phase focused on deploying 250 water sprinklers integrated with anti-smog guns to control dust. The second phase involved engaging 70 MRS machines integrated with 210 water sprinklers.

Initially, the Delhi government planned to route the funds through its Public Works Department. However, following objections from the MCD, which maintains 1,400 km of city roads, the Cabinet decided to grant the funds directly to the civic body. However, the implementation got stuck again as the MCD lacked a Standing Committee to clear the approval.

In December 2024, the project hit another snag when the MCD wrote to the environment department seeking permission to divert the funds towards solid waste management and road maintenance as part of an “integrated” sanitation plan.

The BJP government, which came to power in February 2025, revived the project and passed a new cabinet decision, subsequent structural revisions have caused further delays.

Published – October 13, 2026 01:04 am IST

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Visibility Down Amid Dense Fog Over Delhi-NCR, Rain Likely Today

admin — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 02:43:56 +0000

New Delhi:

A thick blanket of smog continued to envelop Delhi and its adjoining National Capital Region (NCR) for the second consecutive day, with the air quality remaining ‘severe’ on Saturday. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, the air quality index (AQI) breached the 400 mark.

The visibility across the national capital dropped between zero and 200, likely disrupting flight operations.

The Delhi Airport issued an advisory for passengers today morning saying, “Low visibility procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information.”

However, it added, “While landings and take-offs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.”

Update issued at 06:00 hours.
Kind attention to all flyers!#DelhiAirport #FogAlert pic.twitter.com/oY6vMpch0t

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 11, 2025

At least 26 trains are running late today, officials said.

Over 100 flights were delayed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Friday, while at least 30 trains were running late.

Visuals show the national capital covered in a blanket of smog.

#WATCH | Visibility reduced to zero as a blanket of dense fog witnessed in parts of Delhi-NCR

(Visuals from Subroto Park) pic.twitter.com/D2oxrkvaSZ

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025

#WATCH | A dense fog envelops parts of Delhi-NCR

(Visuals from Akshardham area) pic.twitter.com/QX2BGSNOoM

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025

Amid the worsening air quality, the Centre’s panel on Delhi-NCR’s air quality re-imposed Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Under GRAP-3, private BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles have been banned. According to the government, violators will face penalties under Section 194(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, which translates to a fine of Rs 20,000.

Heavy rain likely today

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in Delhi over the weekend. According to the weather department, thunderstorms and lightning with dense fog will likely prevail over the national capital on Saturday and Sunday.

“Dense to very dense fog is likely at isolated places over east Uttar Pradesh, dense fog at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and west Uttar Pradesh,” it added.

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Has There Been A Major Undercount Of Punjab Farm Fires? What Satellite Pics Show

admin — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:08:02 +0000

The images accessed by NDTV were captured at 2:18 pm and farm fires were visible in the Maxar imagery.

New Delhi:

Delhi and its adjoining areas are covered in smog and air quality is still in the ‘very poor’ category. The fourth stage of anti-pollution measures will remain in effect for three days as no sign of relief is expected soon.

Several factors contribute to Delhi’s inferior quality, including construction, the city’s vehicular pollution and the stubble burning by farmers in Punjab and Haryana. While the Central Air Quality Management (CAQM), the pollution control body, has appreciated Punjab for significantly bringing down the cases of stubble burning in the state, scientist Hiren Jethva at NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, differs and told NDTV that farmers are timing stubble burning with NASA satellites overpass time over the subcontinent leading to severe undercounting. Now, exclusive satellite images accessed by NDTV appear to confirm the inference.

Satellite Images Of Punjab Farm Fires

NDTV accessed satellite images of a small area west of Amritsar, to understand the extent of farm fires on November 18 at 2:18 pm. It may look like an image of a warzone, but the smoke is not from the impact of bombs but from farmers burning their agriculture stubble. The red circles indicate the location of farm fires in a small area lying west of the Amritsar airport.

The satellite imagery experts consulted by NDTV, counted at least 26 independent farm fires in the north and west of Amritsar on November 18, shortly after NASA’s satellites with fire-detecting sensors had completed their overpass of the subcontinent.

A zoomed-in image of a farm fire west of Amristar airport shows a large amount of smoke emanating from a single farm fire that burns for several hours, contributing significantly to poor air quality and lowering the visibility in the region.

On November 18, flight operations at Amritsar Airport were impacted due to poor visibility as a result of smog and the smoke from farm fires has converted the Indo-Gangetic plain belt which includes Delhi and its adjoining areas into a gas chamber.

Read more: Exclusive: Wary Of NASA Satellites, How Farmers In Punjab Time Crop-Burning, Scientist Explains

Mr Jethva, earlier told NDTV that, “The overpass time of NASA satellites over the region is around 1:30-2:00 pm but somehow they (farmers) have learnt that they can bypass the satellite overpass time and can burn the crop residue in the late afternoon. This is confirmed by the South Korean geostationary satellite that the majority of the crop burning happens after 2 pm once the NASA satellites overpass the region when there is no surveillance, but the fires cannot be hidden from geostationary satellites which take a picture of the region every five minutes.”

The images accessed by NDTV were captured at 2:18 pm and farm fires were visible in the Maxar imagery and are absent from farm fire data processed by Sumoi-NPP/VIIRS sensors used by NASA.

Another satellite captures an image of an area adjacent to the spot where a single fire emanated a huge amount of smoke. At least eight independent farm fires were spotted by experts who were consulted by NDTV to locate the incidents of stubble burning.

Mr Jethva earlier in an X post, shared satellite images from October 29, taken by the GEO-KOMSAT A2 satellite, showing a timelapse of the crop-burning activities in northwest India. The images show dense cloud cover over the region post-4 pm, when compared to 1:30 pm, suggesting that farmers are burning crops late afternoon to avoid NASA satellite surveillance.

NASA Data

The yellow box next to Amristar is the location of the satellite images accessed by NDTV. The red dots are farm fires which have been detected by sensors from NASA World View, data from which is extensively used in India. The fire sensor data was taken at 2:18 pm on November 18, at the same time when other satellites, except NASA’s, passed over the region

The images appear to confirm that there is a severe undercount of farm fires in Punjab which contribute significantly to the air pollution load this time of the year when farmers burn their agriculture stubble.

Mr Jethva earlier told NDTV, “Yes, farmers can hide the crop burning from the 1:30 pm overpass time but the PM 2.5 data and the pollution load over the Indo-Gangetic plain region, the geostationary satellite data and the burnt…everything is pointing toward fire is still present. Smog towers are a small fix. It won’t work unless we address the issue of crop burning in the region.”

Thermal Inversion – Another Key Factor

Thermal inversion is a big factor behind the sudden spike in dense smog and pollution levels. Mr Jethva explained that “The warmer air sits above the cooler air on the ground and that does not allow the vertical mixing of pollutants and whatever we emit at the surface stays for around 200 metres within the boundary layer. The stronger the thermal inversion, the more pollutants will be trapped near the surface because there is no venting place for the pollutants to go up in the vertical direction.”

“In the satellite images, we can notice that smoke from crop burning is mixed with clouds or is above them and that kind of situation furthers thermal inversion because of the absorption of light-absorbing aerosols and that it further warms the upper layer and increases thermal inversion,” Mr Jethva said.

The particulate matter (PM) acts as a cloud condensation nuclei which favours the formation of fog and when temperatures go down a huge amount of aerosols contribute to fog formation.

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Blanket Of Smog Continues To Envelop Delhi-NCR; Trains, Flights Delayed

admin — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 05:14:08 +0000

The Air Quality Index recorded in Delhi was 379, categorised as ‘very poor’, as of 8 am.

New Delhi:

A blanket of smog continued to envelop Delhi and NCR on Thursday as the air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category, reducing visibility in several parts.

According to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded in Delhi was 379, categorised as ‘very poor’, as of 8 am. The Air Quality Index remains in the ‘severe’ category in Anand Vihar at 405, Ashok Vihar at 414, Bawana at 418, Dwarka Sector-8 at 401, Mundka at 413 and Wazirpur at 436.

The AQI measured at Chandni Chowk is 338, IGI Airport (T3) is 370, ITO is 355, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is 354, RK Puram is 387, Okhla Phase 2 is 370, Patparganj is 381, Sonia Vihar is 394 and Aya Nagar is 359, categorized as ‘very poor’.

Some flights were delayed since morning, as per FlightRadar24, while ANI reported several trains either getting late or rescheduled.

#WATCH | A layer of haze covers the Barapulla area in Delhi. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality in the area remains in ‘Severe’ category.

(Drone visuals shot at 8.10 am) pic.twitter.com/CJaVOAr77Y

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2024

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), imposing restrictions like bans on truck entry and a halt to public construction projects. The Delhi government announced that all government offices functioning under the Delhi Government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi will operate with 50 per cent of the staff strength and the remaining 50 per cent of staff will work from home.

Further, a per revised GRAP guidelines, it will now be mandatory for NCR states to discontinue physical classes up to Class V under GRAP Stage III and up to Class XII under GRAP Stage IV. Under GRAP Stage IV, a “mask advisory” has been introduced, urging individuals to wear masks when stepping outdoors during periods of hazardous air quality. The revisions come even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate to dense fog over Delhi-NCR in the coming days, potentially exacerbating the pollution crisis.

Earlier on Wednesday, Delhi Police directed social media and e-commerce platforms to immediately cease the online sale and delivery of firecrackers within the National Capital Territory (NCT) amid rising air pollution levels.

#WATCH | A layer of haze covers the JLN (Jawaharlal Nehru) Stadium in Delhi. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality in the area remains in ‘Very Poor’ category.

(Drone visuals shot at 8.10 am) pic.twitter.com/Xt2zOgkpOw

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2024

Meanwhile, toxic foam was seen floating on the Yamuna River in Kalindi Kunj and Okhla Barrage. Visuals also showed fog covering the Taj Mahal amid ‘moderate’ air quality in Agra.

An AQI is considered “poor” between ‘200 and 300’, “very poor” at ‘301 and 400’, “severe” at ‘401-450,” and 450 and above is “severe plus.”

With inputs from agencies

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50% Of Delhi Government Employees To Work From Home Amid Severe Pollution

admin — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 03:32:53 +0000

Recently, the Delhi government announced staggered office timings for its offices

New Delhi:

The Delhi government announced today that 50 per cent of its staff will work from home today as the national capital continues to grapple with severe air pollution.

Air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR have breached the “severe” threshold, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) consistently above 450 in many areas. This high AQI has activated Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) – the most stringent level aimed at tackling hazardous pollution.

“To reduce pollution, Delhi government has decided to work from home in government offices. 50% of employees will work from home. For its implementation, a meeting will be held with officials at 1 pm today in the Secretariat,” announced Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai.

Recently, the Delhi government announced staggered office timings for its offices and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

प्रदुषण कम करने के लिए दिल्ली सरकार ने सरकारी दफ़्तरो में वर्क फ्रॉम होम का लिया निर्णय

50% कर्मचारी करेंगे घर से काम

इसके इम्पलिमेंटेशन के लिए सचिवालय में आज दोपहर 1 बजे अधिकारियों के साथ होगी बैठक

— Gopal Rai (@AapKaGopalRai) November 20, 2024

A ban has been imposed on BS-IV and older diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles (MGVs and HGVs) registered in Delhi, except those providing essential services. Similar bans apply to BS-III petrol vehicles as well.

Schools for Classes 10 to 12 have been temporarily closed to minimise exposure for students.

Last year, the Delhi government collaborated with IIT Kanpur to explore cloud seeding as an emergency measure. Preparations for this year’s operations began in August, but a meeting on this is yet to take place.

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Delhi Engulfed In Blanket Of Smog For 2nd Consecutive Day, AQI At 432

admin — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 01:29:34 +0000

At 5:30 am, Amritsar and Pathankhot airports in Punjab reported zero visibility.

New Delhi:

Delhiites woke up to another smoggy morning with a thick layer of white blanket (smog) engulfing the city. The air quality index (AQI) at 6 am was recorded at 432, falling under the “severe” category”, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Low visibility due to heavy smog is likely to impact flights to and from various cities around Delhi. At 5:30 am, Amritsar and Pathankot airports in Punjab reported zero visibility. At 7 in the morning, visibility at Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur airport dropped to zero.

#WATCH | Delhi: A thick layer of smog engulfs the Gazipur as the air quality deteriorates to ‘Severe’ category in several parts of the national capital, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

AQI in Anand Vihar is at 473 pic.twitter.com/QuiRz7LAtv

— ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2024

Earlier in the morning, Indigo posted a travel advisory on social media X (formerly Twitter), urging passengers to keep a tab on their flight status as some flights might be delayed due to “winter fog”.

“This morning, winter fog may impact flights to/from Amritsar, Varanasi & Delhi. Do keep a tab on your flight status before heading to the airport. Also, please allow additional travel time as road traffic may move slower than usual due to low visibility. Thank you for your patience, and we wish you a smooth journey,” it wrote.

#6ETravelAdvisory : This morning, winter fog may impact flights to/from #Amritsar, #Varanasi & #Delhi. Do keep a tab on your flight status https://t.co/CjwsVzFov0 before heading to the airport. Also, please allow additional travel time as road traffic may move slower (1/2)

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) November 13, 2024

A sharp spike in Delhi’s air pollution was witnessed in the past 24 hours with 30 out of 36 monitoring stations reporting severe air quality index.

Chandigarh, 250 km away from Delhi also reported a severe air quality index of 415

Smog chokes nearby Ghaziabad (AQI of 378), Noida (372), and Gurugram (323) with air quality plummeting to the “very poor” category.

Long-term exposure to “very poor” air quality can lead to respiratory. Whereas, severe AQI can affect even healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases.

Smog chokes Delhi and Chandigarh as Air Quality Index (AQI) hits ‘severe’ level at 6:30 am#AQI #DelhiAQI #AirPollution #Chandigarh pic.twitter.com/COTgnH5YmO

— NDTV (@ndtv) November 14, 2024

Owing to stronger winds, the pollutant concentration and thereby the AQI, is expected to start showing a declining trend from today onwards and the AQI is likely to move back to the “very poor” category, noted a report filed by the India Meteorological Department and IITM.

On Wednesday, the AQI turned “severe” for the first time this season. The Commission for Air Quality Management described “unprecedented extremely dense fog” as an “episodic event”.

It was decided to keep a close watch on the situation, before invoking the stringent measures under Stage-III of GRAP.

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Smog Blanket Over North India, Air Quality Drops To “Severe” Level

admin — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:33:17 +0000

Satellite images show the smog blanket stretching across practically the whole of north India.

There has been an early onset of toxic cover across Delhi and north India this year owing to stubble burning across the north Indian states. What is also shocking is the scale of the smog cover, as well as the level of pollutants present in it.

Satellite images show the white blanket stretching across practically the whole of north India — all the way down to Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. In the east, it stretches well beyond Central Uttar Pradesh.

The smog blanket, while registering its presence just around Diwali, settles down in earnest towards the end of December and continues throughout January.

What makes this doubly clear is a satellite image from last year. Here is a comparison of both images from the Korean Geo Kompsat 2A satellite.

The smog cover over Delhi was thick and significantly dropped air quality to the ‘Severe’ category. The Air Quality Index had crossed the 400 mark — when the approved mark is around 60.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Pollution board CAQM said: “Today, Delhi’s daily average AQI clocked 418 as per the 4 PM AQI Bulletin by CPCB. The CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP accordingly took stock of the air quality scenario and the AQI forecast, including for the meteorological conditions as made by IMD/ IITM.”

Today, Delhi’s daily average AQI clocked 418 as per the 4 PM AQI Bulletin by CPCB. The CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP accordingly took stock of the air quality scenario and the AQI forecast, including for the meteorological conditions as made by IMD/ IITM.
Cont. (1/5)

— Commission for Air Quality Management (@CAQM_Official) November 13, 2024

The low visibility sevrely hampered flight operations. The smog caused zero visibility at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at 8.30 am. The Runway Visual Range varied between 125 and 500 metres, the met department said.

The pollution board said they expect the situation to improve by tomorrow morning, “owing to stronger winds”.

The Air Quality Index is also expected to move back to the ‘Very Poor’ category tomorrow.

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‘Severe’ Air Quality In Delhi Today An “Episodic Event”: Pollution Body

admin — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 14:46:21 +0000

Since October, the Delhi-NCR region has seen air quality dropping to dangerous levels.

New Delhi:

Residents in Delhi and its adjoining areas saw a thick layer of smog covering the region, significantly dropping the air quality to the ‘Severe’ category after the Air Quality Index crossed the 400 mark and disrupted flight operations due to low visibility.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has called the early-morning dense smog an “episodic event”.

Thick smog caused zero-metre visibility at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at 8.30 am with the Runway Visual Range varying between 125 and 500 metres at different locations, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Since October, the Delhi-NCR region has seen air quality dropping to dangerous levels, with many contributing factors like vehicular pollution in the capital and stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.

Pollution board CAQM said, “Today, Delhi’s daily average AQI clocked 418 as per the 4 PM AQI Bulletin by CPCB. The CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP accordingly took stock of the air quality scenario and the AQI forecast, including for the meteorological conditions as made by IMD/ IITM.”

Today, Delhi’s daily average AQI clocked 418 as per the 4 PM AQI Bulletin by CPCB. The CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP accordingly took stock of the air quality scenario and the AQI forecast, including for the meteorological conditions as made by IMD/ IITM.
Cont. (1/5)

— Commission for Air Quality Management (@CAQM_Official) November 13, 2024

“The Sub-Committee noted this steep rise in AQI of Delhi owing to this episodic event, since this morning.”

The board said they expect the situation to improve by tomorrow morning, “owing to stronger winds” and the “AQI, is expected to start showing a declining trend tomorrow onwards.” They said the air quality is likely to move back to the ‘Very Poor’ category tomorrow.

On enforcing stage III of pollution measures, the panel said, “Comprehensively reviewing this scenario accordingly, it was decided by the Sub-Committee to keep a close watch on the situation, before invoking the stringent/ restrictive measures under Stage-III of GRAP and to review the status tomorrow.”

In October, the panel implemented stage II of the anti-pollution plan in the city after the AQI crossed the 300 mark and has hovered mostly between 200-300 since then.

Under stage two of the GRAP or the Graded Response Action Plan, there will be restrictions on the use of coal and firewood as well as diesel generator sets in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).

Mechanical sweeping and water sprinkling on identified roads will also be carried out daily, and dust control measures will be enforced at construction and demolition sites.

Further, traffic personnel will be deployed at congestion points, vehicle parking fees will be increased to discourage private transport and additional bus and metro services will be started.

Under stage III measures, there’s a ban on non-essential construction work and the plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR.

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Thick Smog Blankets Delhi-NCR, Air Quality Index Crosses 400-Mark

admin — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 01:35:46 +0000

The second stage of Graded Response Action Plan remains in force in the national capital.

New Delhi:

A dense layer of smog enveloped Delhi and surrounding regions of Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad on Wednesday morning.

Delhi’s air quality index was in the ‘Severe’ category breaching the 400 mark, while that of Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad was in the ‘Poor’ category. Faridabad’s AQI, at 188, was ‘Moderate’.

Visibility was poor as the AQI entered the ‘Severe’ category after remaining in the ‘Very Poor’ category for two weeks in Delhi.

VIDEO | Dense #smog cover in parts of Delhi. Visuals from Akshardham area.#DelhiWeather #DelhiPollution

(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/nTRkp0W95m

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 13, 2024

The second stage of Graded Response Action Plan remains in force in the national capital, which entails mechanical sweeping and water sprinkling on identified roads, and implementation of dust control measures at construction and demolition sites.

Air quality remained a concern all over the Indo-Gangetic Plains, with three Bihar cities, two Haryana cities and Chandigarh featuring among the top 10 polluted places in the country on Wednesday.

#WATCH | Delhi continues to be covered in a blanket of smog in the mornings as the air quality in the city remains in ‘Very Poor’ category as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

(Visuals from Azadpur Mandi) pic.twitter.com/h9CR1CtRZO

— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2024

The situation is alarming in neighbouring Pakistan, where United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned about the health risks to 11 million children in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province due to worsening air pollution.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, 401 and 450 ‘severe’ and above 450 ‘severe plus’.

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